REDDITCH Council's leader has warned there will be no support for groups, businesses and projects, in the town as the authority sets its budget.

Redditch Borough councillors are set to approve proposals which span over the next four years and which address serious concerns from auditors.

Last year the council’s auditors Grant Thornton, issued a Section 24 notice - telling the council it needs to save £1.5m over the next three years.

It also expressed concern the council had failed to properly plan to deal with its financial woes.

To date £250k of savings have been made with the closure of the One Stop Shops, withdrawal from Rubicon Business Centre, and a deeply controversial review of the Voluntary Community Service funding.

Council leader Matt Dormer said: “With reductions in grants including revenue and business rate support and New Homes Bonus, gone are the days when we can support groups, businesses and projects which are not directly related to our council’s purposes.

“Instead we need to focus on running our services like a commercial business and where possible being more efficient and even generating income."

He added: “I am extremely delighted with how we have pulled together, officers and members alike, to realise that we have no choice but to work differently if we are to do the best by our residents, as demonstrated by this budget.”

Redditch Borough Council’s Executive Member for Corporate Management, Cllr David Thain said: “We responded quickly to the auditor’s recommendations, setting up a budget scrutiny group and earmarking these difficult, but necessary decisions.

“We wanted to ensure our taxpayers’ money was directed at services which were aligned to the Council’s strategic priorities but wanted to look long-term, rather than making knee-jerk decisions.

The council’s executive committee are set to recommend the medium-term financial plan on Monday, February 24 with full council being asked to approve it at a meeting straight after.