Is North Somerset Council addicted to debt?

A BLACK hole of debt is being built up by North Somerset Council’s Tory masters while services have been slashed due to ‘austerity’ – with more on the way.
Worle campaigner Edward Keating is concerned about recently released figures showing long-term debts of Conservative-run North Somerset Council rose to a mammoth £137 million this year – up by an eye-watering £3 million on a year ago.
The Tories also recently announced £86.3million of further service cuts would be made over the years to 2018.
The authority’s debt levels have been increasing for several years, partly driven by the high-profile office reorganisation programme which has seen a £10 million revamp of the council’s Town Hall offices in Weston and the acquisition of the Castlewood office complex in Clevedon for £12.6 million.
This £22.6million of our council tax was spent on plush offices for staff and councillors despite the council scaling back front lines services because of ‘austerity’.
Edward Keating commented: “Opposition Lib Dem Councillors on North Somerset have been raising concerns about the level of debt for several years.”
During this period, the council’s cash balances and reserves have been falling, but debts have been rising.
Now there are growing concerns that the debt levels are fast becoming unsustainable.