WIRRAL'S ruling cabinet has backed plans for radical reforms of council services as it aims to plug a £132m budget black hole. 

The authority faces Government funding cuts of £132m over the next four years - £45m will need to slashed in the next year.

Wirral is among many authorities whose budgets face being threadbare by 2020.

Council leader Phil Davies said the government's phasing-out of Revenue Support Grants, means the council needs to make radical reforms in how services are delivered.

In his report to cabinet last night, Cllr Davies proposed increases in revenue and income targets from business rates, council tax, fees and charges.

The plan could also see many existing services moved to new organisations.

Assessing the challenges ahead, Cllr Davies said last night: "Over the next four years, Wirral Council has to find from increased income or spending reductions £132 million.

"That's on top of the huge reductions and cuts we have already had to absorb and includes the requirement to find £45 million just next year.

"We have ambitions for Wirral which we will not lower or compromise.

"We are planning long term, and will design a budget strategy covering the next four years which will allow us to deliver fundamental redesign of how the Council works and the services it provides."

The report will be considered by the council's overview and scrutiny committee during a series of workshops in January. Cabinet will make its final budget decisions in February.

Wirral Globe:

Cllr Davies (pictured, above) continued: "Every year, this Council faces a growing challenge to set a budget which enables us to protect the vulnerable and improve the lives of our residents.

"To achieve this we have to balance the rising costs and demand for services with the income we raise from Business Rates and Council Tax and the shrinking grants we receive from Central Government.

"To deal with these challenges, councils like Wirral have historically survived by making minor reductions to services, small increases in charges and asking our staff and our partners to do lot more with a lot less.

"This time, the truth is incremental change will no longer get the job done.

"We have spelled out where our priorities lie.

"In this new age for local government, it is our job to make sure we focus our efforts, our resources and our energy on what is truly important to residents."

Budget proposals at-a-glance ...

Improving Efficiency - £38 million

The council needs to be well organised and efficient, and make progress towards achieving better value for money.

Over the next four years, the council is proposing to save £38 million by renegotiating contracts, improving the way money is managed and invested, and getting the best possible value from every pound available.

Redesigning Services - £40 million

A programme to redesign all council services including leisure and culture, making sure they meet residents’ needs at a reduced cost to the taxpayer, is underway.

Detailed consultation with residents on the proposals will be delivered in early 2017.

Generating Income - £56 million

Accepting the Government’s offer of a 'four year settlement' brings the requirement to agree an annual council tax rise.

This, coupled with charging a fair price for ‘paid for services’ will bring significant new income to the council.

Plans are also being progressed to increase how many new homes are built in the borough.

With more than 13,000 approved planning applications already on the books, a big increase in house building will deliver millions in additional revenue.