Peterborough could get more enforcement officers to issue more fines

The number of enforcement officers in a city could be doubled to help generate more money through fines.

Peterborough City Council tabled several initiatives to balance its budget and said it overspent by £3m last financial year.

Other plans included fountains being permanently switched off and burial chambers being built to sell.

Its budget would be scrutinised and debated multiple times before councillors voted on it.

The local authority said plans for the enforcement expansion would not only generate money through fines, but would attract new businesses to Peterborough by ensuring it appeared "safe, welcoming, and attractive", the Local Democracy Reporting Service, wrote.

Fines for anti-social behaviour in the city centre had dropped by more than 60% over the last six years, in part because the council ended its contract with security company Kingdom Services Group and brought enforcement in house. 

The council said building 81 mausoleums, which are above-ground burial chambers, could boost income through sales.

It suggested this could be done at Fletton Cemetery, if planning permission was approved.

Another proposal was to permanently switch off fountains in Cathedral Square.

The council commissioned independent surveys last year to assess the fountains' viability.

They found the fountains would need significant investment and were advised that a specialist company should be commissioned to carry out ongoing essential maintenance, which would come at an additional cost.

The fountains were kept off last year after it was estimated it would cost about £35,000 to get them working. A public poll revealed a majority of people wanted the fountains turned off given the investment needed.

Deputy leader John Howard, said: "The council faces some very tough decisions in the next few months to ensure we can balance our books.

"We understand residents may be saddened by the decision, but with the significant costs... we see this as an opportunity to look at a new vision for Cathedral Square."

The fountains were built 14 years ago, at a cost of £340,000 as part of an £11m regeneration scheme.

The vice-chair of the Peterborough Civic Society, Toby Wood, reacted to the idea of turning them off as "inevitable".

"They've never been particularly efficient.

"Now this is a great opportunity to look at that space and and its flexibility and see how it could be used better. It is a blank canvas, it just needs imagination, a glint in the eye to see what could be done with it."

Reducing temperatures at Peterborough Lido was also suggested to "reduce energy costs".

The Art Deco lido on Bishop's Road, has three heated pools, and was typically open between April and September, although its season was extended last year to make up for the ongoing closure of the Regional Pool. 

A review of the council's school crossing patrol service was included in the plans.

It funded crossing services at five school and said a review could see lollipop workers job's being cut, replaced with volunteers or being provided by the school.

Budget documents forecast a £3.3m gap in 2025/6 and £6.9m gap in 2026/7.

Pressures included uncertainty around government settlements, an increase in the national living wage, high levels of inflation, increased energy costs and an increase in demand for social care and housing services. 

In order to address some of the pressures around social care, the council proposed establishing a new social care academy to support newly-qualified staff and reduce its reliance on costly agency staff. 

It would also look at "exploring international recruitment", it said. 

Another suggestion was to make the last council run community centre private.

If approved, Gladstone Park, would be run by a third party.

The budget, presented by Peterborough First group, which controls the council, would be scrutinised and debated by councillors before they were asked to vote on the proposals.

It would be the first budget in two decades not presented by the council's Conservative group.

The final budget is set to be approved on Wednesday, 21 February.

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