York: Police cuts 'could be devastating'

The chief constable of North Yorkshire Police has described possible cuts to the force's budget as "potentially devastating" - reports the BBC.

The government is considering changing the way in which grant funding to police authorities is calculated.

North Yorkshire Police said its budget could be cut by £10m - jeopardising jobs - if the changes went ahead.

Grahame Maxwell said the move could ruin his force's "relatively stable financial footing".

North Yorkshire Police currently receives £73m a year from central government, 58% of its total funding.

Mr Maxwell said: "These changes could be devastating for North Yorkshire Police if they were brought in and would certainly impact on the level of service we could deliver to people in North Yorkshire and York.

"Our current financial plans show that we are in any event facing a £5m budgetary gap next year, which we are planning to manage through a stringent analysis of all areas of service.

"However, any further reductions in grant will put real pressure on our ability to continue to develop safer neighbourhoods - if indeed we can sustain existing levels, which is doubtful - and will certainly preclude any further investment in protective services."

Jane Kenyon, chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Authority, said she concurred with Mr Maxwell's view and would be seeking urgent talks with the Home Secretary and North Yorkshire's MPs.

The Home Office's consultation exercise on policing funding formula is expected to be completed at the end of October, with an announcement on the findings due in November.

York: Fears for city as funding cuts force review of flooding defences

A review of York’s flood defences is under way as concerns grow that the city could be put at risk by multi-million pound cuts in government funding – reports the Yorkshire Post.

The Environment Agency is currently battling to make multi-million pound cuts to meet government deadlines.

York Council has launched the review of contingency plans put in place in the wake of the 2000 disaster to ensure the flood-prone city is adequately protected while having to contend with the planning financial cuts.

The River Ouse burst its banks earlier this month following torrential downpours and parts of the city remained under water this week.

Chairman of the council’s scrutiny management committee Madeleine Kirk said: "There is a financial crisis in Westminster and vital defences in York look as though they could be put at risk. We can only hope that any reduction in funding does not have disastrous consequences for the people of York."

"It seems ludicrous that at a time when we are being warned of the danger of global warming the government is looking to reduce funding for flood prevention."

York hospital trust to shed 200 jobs

The BBC is reporting that York Hospital is to cut 200 jobs amid a cash crisis at its sister NHS trust.

Only half of the 400 vacancies expected at the York Hospitals Trust during this financial year will be filled in a move expected to save £2.5m.

The hospital said compulsory job losses could not be ruled out, but insisted that key posts would be maintained.

Managers blamed the decision largely on financial problems at the Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), which buys services from the hospital. The PCT is saddled with debts of £23.7m (not even two days worth of our £115 million a week payments to the EU) and has been forced to reduce its spending.