LABOUR councillors have raised concern over savings made by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Borough council leader, Councillor Clive Sanders, announced that the local authority made a surplus of £1.38million in 2014/15.

This includes a saving of £994,000 from staffing and IT budgets, delays for planned spends of £265,000 and £547,000 of additional income.

However, they also spent £426,000 on additional expenditure and reduced income, meaning they ended the financial year with a surplus of £1.38m.

But members of the borough’s Labour group expressed concern at the amount saved and said more money needed to be spent on reducing homelessness and car parking fees across the borough.

During 2014/15, £49,700 was saved from the borough council’s homelessness fund.

Former leader of the borough council’s Labour group, Cllr Laura James, welcomed the news that £183,000 had been spent to purchase homes to prevent the use of bed and breakfast accommodation, but questioned if enough was being done.

She said: “It concerns me that there was an under spend at a time when there were 63 additional people in bed and breakfasts last year.

“I recognise that we are spending more money in different areas but when we are being told about an increase in homelessness, I really hope the budget will be able to meet their needs.”

Cllr James added that an increase in car parking charges is having a negative impact on the town centre, after the borough council pulled in £6.3m from fees and charges.

She said: “This council actually made money out of car parking at a time when we have empty shops. If you walk through the town centre, it is a town centre struggling."

“I think we need to think about our car parking charges and also within Norden – within our own ward – so many more commuters are parking in the ward. It is such a major problem because people are not parking in the car parks.

“Is it not time to reduce car parking to help the town and to ensure commuters use car parks and not the surrounding streets?”

But council leader Cllr Clive Sanders defended the results, telling the meeting: “A major effort has been made, and continues to be made, by the financial team to improve the realism and accuracy of projections.

“I think just over one per cent variance on the revenue out-turn is a really good performance given the large and complex nature of the council’s budget. I think residents can be confident that the finances of their council are in very good, safe hands.”