REDDITCH Council has said it is ready to make "tough decisions" as it must find a whopping £1.5m of savings over the next three years.

Of this, £1.2m needs to be delivered in the next financial year.

The council’s auditors, Grant Thornton, recently published its opinion on the authority’s finances and urged the council to take urgent steps to address the situation.

Council leader Matt Dormer said: “We have understood, for the last year, that we are going to face financial challenges.

“We know we have to make some significant decisions which could include raising Council Tax and reassessing our levels of services.

“We are not afraid to take the tough decisions required to protect the public purse and are putting the politics to one side to make the changes which will have an immediate positive impact on our services and residents – and provide long-term benefit to the borough."

The auditors, Grant Thornton, will send a copy of the recommendations to the Secretary of State and the council will hold meetings to discuss the actions it will take, the first being an Audit Committee on July 29.

Cllr David Thain, who was made portfolio holder for finance and corporate management, after his election in May 2019, said: “Councillors’ inability to make difficult decisions in the past has left the council’s finances in less than a healthy state. But now we are primed and ready.

“We take great pride in providing our residents with the services they deserve but we also have a responsibility to create a robust financial plan for the future, and we are determined to achieve this.

“I have a plan and Redditch Borough Council, under this leadership, will implement this.”