Woking Council plans cuts to arts services

Cuts to local arts services are among those being proposed by Woking Council to save £12m in the next financial year.

The local authority declared itself bankrupt in June, revealing a £1.2 billion deficit, following a risky investment spree overseen by its former Conservative administration, which led the council for a decade up to May 2022.

In a bid to balance the books, the council’s current Liberal Democrat leadership has laid out a series of cuts – to playgrounds, community schemes, sports facilities and initiatives for young, old and vulnerable residents.

Arts and culture services to be hit include funding for choir and dance classes for residents with Parkinson’s disease and support for a summer concert series.

A report from the Guardian has indicated several arts organisations, including Dance Woking and The Lightbox, are facing potential loss of their entire council funding.

A consultation on the proposed cuts to public services will begin next month. According to the BBC, a further consultation looking into alternative arts funding sources is set to begin 2 October.