PRESSURES on public services are at a ‘critical level’, St Helens Council leader Barrie Grunewald has said.

Writing in a new report, Cllr Grunewald said ‘difficult’ decisions will have to be made regarding services the council can afford to provide in the future.

The draft report – which will be discussed by cabinet members this evening – sets out the council’s vision for the borough until 2020, which include making £13.1 million of savings over the next two years.

This includes a council tax rise of 5.99 per cent – the maximum amount allowed by central government.

The council has already proposed axing the Ranger Service by 2019, with the borough’s library service also under threat. Cabinet are also set to approve a three-weekly bin collection pilot at tonight's meeting.

“We must be realistic,” Cllr Grunewald said.

“Although difficult decisions about the services we can afford to provide and how they are provided cannot be avoided, we will continue to do all in our power to ensure that the decisions taken have the best interests of local people at heart and that the most vulnerable in our communities continue to be effectively supported and protected.”

Cllr Grunewald said the council’s response to the increasing pressures to health and social care is to develop ‘St Helens Cares’.

The council plans to launch the wellbeing and social care system later this year.

“St Helens Council continues to grapple with the impact of significant cuts to public sector investment and ever-growing demand for its services," Cllr Grunewald, said.

“As a council we are not unique in this position, and with pressures reaching critical limits across the whole of the local public service system, a new collaborative approach was recognised as being urgently required if the needs of the community are to continue to be met.”

The council will also reshuffle its organisational structure, which will be based around three departments – people’s services, place services and corporate services.

These will be overseen by three strategic directors and spearheaded by the chief executive, Mike Palin.

Cllr Grunewald added: “Although there are uncertainties ahead we are determined to grasp the opportunities before us and it is fitting in the 150th anniversary of our borough, whilst we celebrate our past history and heritage, that we are now also able to look ahead with a growing sense of confidence and aspire to deliver a future vision for St Helens that instils pride amongst us all.”