A cash-strapped Labour council has cancelled its Christmas lights display. Medway Council in Kent expects £75,000 will be saved by pulling the plug on the annual festive display.
Councillors hope the decision will ease the local authority’s potential £17 million overspend that’s left it staring down the barrel of bankruptcy.
Leaders said they were “left with no choice” to axe the festive show, months after they ditched its free fireworks display. Conservatives ran the authority when it cancelled the annual bonfire night display in Gillingham, saving £40,000.
Medway Council have tried to soften the blow by planning to put a Christmas tree in each town, organising character meet and greets in three libraries, and a parade on November 18.
Labour Council leader Vince Maple, said: “Unfortunately due to the challenging financial situation the council is in, we have had to make the sad and difficult decision to not have Christmas lights across Medway this year.
“This means there will sadly be no switch-on events held in the town centres this year. I know how disappointing this will be for many families, residents and businesses, including myself who enjoyed attending the event with my family, but the reality of the situation is that we unfortunately have no choice but to make these tough decisions.
“I know how disappointing this will be for many families, residents and businesses, including myself who enjoyed attending the event with my family, but the reality of the situation is that we unfortunately have no choice but to make these tough decisions.
“Medway Council continues to be one of the lowest funded unitary authorities in the country per head of population with our revenue support grant cut by 91 percent since 2010. Consequently, our budget forecasting has identified a potential overspend of £17million for this financial year.
“This decision alone will save the council £75,000 and, whilst I appreciate there is still a long way to go to reduce the budget gap, I will continue to lobby central government to ensure Medway receives a fair amount of funding.
“However, until then, we are left with no choice but to make these incredibly difficult decisions as a cabinet, and with our council colleagues and partners, to reduce the potential overspend and to ensure we can continue to provide essential services that we are required to provide by law, such as social care, waste collections and housing.
“We are continuing to explore savings options whilst providing an excellent service and support system for our vulnerable residents.”
Financial reports reveal that within two years the Medway could be £40 million short of its budget, and Labour warned the council that it could be in serious trouble if action was not taken.
However, in a bid to save Christmas, there will be, as well as the trees and parade, a festive market for three weekends in Rochester, a children’s Christmas village in the castle’s grounds, a Dickensian Christmas Festival, Victorian traditions at Eastgate House, elves on shelves at The Guildhall Museum and a pantomime at The Central Theatre in Chatham.
Councillor Maple added: “Medway has thousands of local businesses, including a wonderful range of bespoke shops, so please do shop local where you are able to in the run-up to Christmas.
“Medway also has fantastic charity shops giving residents the opportunity to bag a bargain and give to worthy causes. It is Small Business Saturday coming up on December 2 and a great excuse to shop in Medway. We will continue to work closely with our town centre businesses to explore further ways to support them this Christmas.
“We are also exploring public transport support in December to make it easier to get to our town centres and high streets.”
