> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Report says Lichfield District Council continues to face ‘stark’ financial challenges - URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/report-says-lichfield-district-council-continues-to-face-stark-financial-challenges/ - Published: 2015-06-05T09:30:13.000Z - Updated: 2015-06-05T09:43:39.000Z - Description: A programme to help balance the books at Lichfield District Council has minimised redundancies and cuts to front line services but continues to face stark financial challenges, according to a report. - Author: Lichfield Live - Tags: Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 20:42, News A programme to help balance the books at Lichfield District Council has minimised redundancies and cuts to front line services but continues to face stark financial challenges, according to a report. [![The offices of Lichfield District Council. Pic: Lichfield District Council](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/lichfield_district_council_house.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2015/06/01/group-says-expanded-lichfield-district-council-cabinet-should-have-had-more-women/lichfield%5Fdistrict%5Fcouncil%5Fhouse-2/) The offices of Lichfield District Council. Pic: Lichfield District Council Leader Mike Wilcox has submitted the review to a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee next week. The local authority launched its [Fit for the Future programme](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2013/07/09/council-set-to-rubber-stamp-wide-ranging-cuts-across-lichfield-and-burntwood/) after a reduction in the funding it receives from Government. Around £1.8million has already been shaved off the council’s bills, through cuts to areas such as staffing, leisure centre opening times and the ending of some services completely. The report said the “savings” had been managed as well as possible. “While there have been some difficult decisions, and a period of significant change and uncertainty for many staff, the measures have helped minimise both compulsory redundancies since May 2013 and cuts to frontline services,” the report said. “The savings achieved to date have helped put the council on a sounder financial footing in the short term.” But it’s the long term picture which does not look quite so positive. The council has already confirmed plans to use more than £400,000 from its reserves to balance the books over the next three years. And with more savings needed, the latest stage of the Fit for the Future programme is looking for more savings. The report said: “The next phase of the programme will need to focus more on transforming the way the council operates, including how it interacts with customers and making sure the way the organisation is structured and organised is effective. “Looking at how demand for services can be reduced or managed and how service users can access services and information in ways that costs the council less are important elements of this. “Decisions about where to spend money will need to become more evidence based, so that reduced resources can be targeted on those areas and communities who need them most.” As well as plans for a “channel shift” in the way residents can use technology to interact with the council, a number of other areas are also up for a fresh review, including: - Strategic housing - Leisure services - Revenues and benefits - Parks and open spaces - Economic development - Car parks “Further change and transformation is required to ensure the medium and long term sustainability of the council,” the report said. “Having achieved notable efficiency savings, the Fit for the Future programme now needs to focus increasingly on reforming and modernising how the organisation operates so that it becomes a more productive and corporate council able to deliver agreed strategic outcomes with a smaller budget. “The financial challenge facing the council remains stark.”