THE worst cuts local government has ever seen have hit Stroud District Council, the chief executive has said.

In his 30 year career in local government, David Hagg, chief executive of the district council, said the recent budget cuts were the worst in terms of speed and the level of reduction he had witnessed.

He was speaking at a press conference following budget announcements for the next two years at the council, in which Stroud will have to battle the largest cut in Government grant in the whole country – a reduction of 28 per cent over two years.

At a meeting of the cabinet it was announced that over the two year period spending in the district would be brought down from £6.546 million to £4.673 million.

This, councillors were told, would be achieved by a reduction in staff numbers of 10 per cent, making departments more efficient and generating more income from projects such as installing renewable energy technology and renting out parts of Ebley Mill headquarters.

Leader of the council Cllr Frances Roden said she also had "grave concerns" about the following two year period, for which funding cuts have not yet been announced by central government, and that she was "frustrated" that Stroud was getting a rough deal in terms of financial support.

Cllr Nigel Cooper, cabinet member for finance, said "nothing was sacred" when it came to cuts, but he hoped that residents in the district would not feel too hard hit.

"Hopefully our residents won’t feel it. So long as we can still provide services, albeit reduced or restructured, then they shouldn’t notice," he said.

He did not hold out much hope for Stroud MP Neil Carmichael persuading the minister in charge of local Government that the grant given to Stroud was too low.

"He is not in a good position as the new kid on the block," said Cllr Cooper.