This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/devon/10327469.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| National parks must return £200k | National parks must return £200k |
| (1 day later) | |
| The authority said all new Dartmoor vacancies have been frozen | |
| National parks in Devon must return some of their budget in a bid to reduce national debt. | National parks in Devon must return some of their budget in a bid to reduce national debt. |
| Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks have been told that they must hand back 5% of their budget to Defra by the end of the financial year. | Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks have been told that they must hand back 5% of their budget to Defra by the end of the financial year. |
| The government money-saving scheme will see both parks return about £200,000. | The government money-saving scheme will see both parks return about £200,000. |
| Dartmoor National Park said it had frozen training budgets while Exmoor National Park said an education project would be put on hold. | Dartmoor National Park said it had frozen training budgets while Exmoor National Park said an education project would be put on hold. |
| 'Frontline services' | 'Frontline services' |
| Chief Executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority Kevin Bishop said: 'We are obviously disappointed that our grant from Defra has been cut this financial year but appreciate the difficulties faced by all public sector bodies. | Chief Executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority Kevin Bishop said: 'We are obviously disappointed that our grant from Defra has been cut this financial year but appreciate the difficulties faced by all public sector bodies. |
| "We have identified immediate savings to protect frontline services. We have frozen all new vacancies, training budgets and suspended the Dartmoor Grant. | "We have identified immediate savings to protect frontline services. We have frozen all new vacancies, training budgets and suspended the Dartmoor Grant. |
| "The 5% cut this year will make it difficult to absorb any future cuts without an impact on frontline services." | "The 5% cut this year will make it difficult to absorb any future cuts without an impact on frontline services." |
| All national parks across the country have been asked to return 5% of their budget to Defra, which provides funding to them. | All national parks across the country have been asked to return 5% of their budget to Defra, which provides funding to them. |
| 'Major changes' | 'Major changes' |
| Nigel Stone, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park, said: "We think we can find it this year without having to make any major changes, but it will make life much more difficult. | Nigel Stone, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park, said: "We think we can find it this year without having to make any major changes, but it will make life much more difficult. |
| "We were keen to enhance the education centre to provide a new classroom and energy efficiency [improvements], but that's one of the projects we've had to put on hold. | "We were keen to enhance the education centre to provide a new classroom and energy efficiency [improvements], but that's one of the projects we've had to put on hold. |
| "There's a general feeling that all parts of the public sector need to save money and contribute." | "There's a general feeling that all parts of the public sector need to save money and contribute." |
| In a statement, Defra said: "Individual national park authorities will revise their own budgets to reflect this reduced funding. | In a statement, Defra said: "Individual national park authorities will revise their own budgets to reflect this reduced funding. |
| "However, the government expects authorities to do all they can to protect front-line services by looking first at the scope for efficiency savings or reducing back-office work." | "However, the government expects authorities to do all they can to protect front-line services by looking first at the scope for efficiency savings or reducing back-office work." |