Libraries, bus subsidies and amenity tips under threat
Read our special report looking at how the county council could save up to £22million –
For too long the Tories have taken for granted the support of rural voters and have run roughshod over their needs, neglecting vital facilities and infrastructure ALISON BENNETT Liberal Democrat
Questions hang over the future of a number of West Sussex libraries amid county council plans to cut up to £500,000 from the service’s budget.
A report due to be discussed by the Tory cabinet this week said ‘several’ tier 6 libraries could be closed to help save money alongside reduced opening hours for the remaining facilities, as well as axing the mobile library service.
There are 13 tier 6 libraries in the county, with Petworth, Southbourne and Witterings all included in this category.
The Lib Dems said it was ‘terrible’ the county council was even contemplating closing Southbourne Library and labelled the move ‘shortsighted and completely out of touch with what is happening locally’.
Lib Dem Tracie Bangert, who represents the parish at Chichester District Council and previously worked at Southbourne Library, said the facility was not just about books or even the internet.
She said: “Many of the residents who come in need help to navigate websites and complete online forms that are required to use many government services.
“The library is a haven for some children who may have very few books at home and schools still recommend children use libraries rather than rely exclusively upon Wikipedia.”
Fellow ward councillor Jonathan Brown, who, growing up, took part in summer reading challenges at Southbourne Library, added: “Southbourne is set to grow very substantially under the revised local plan so it is madness to talk about closing the library. It is a vital community hub.
“The last thing we should be doing is making people more isolated from each other by removing places for the community to come together.”
Fellow Lib Dem Alison Bennett added: “As the prospective parliamentary candidate for Arundel and South Downs I am especially concerned that eight of the 13 Tier 6 libraries at risk are in my constituency.
“For too long the Tories have taken for granted the support of rural voters and have run roughshod over their needs, neglecting vital facilities and infrastructure.”
The cuts are among a list of suggestions for the 2020/21 budget, which could save more than £22million – which opposition members said they would fight ‘tooth and nail’.
The list also includes plans to close two of the county’s 11 household waste recycling centres, reintroduce charges for DIY waste and stop the mobile waste service in Selsey and the Witterings.
These three changes would save £720,000.
Donna and Tim Johnson, Local Alliance district councillors for Sidlesham with Selsey North and Selsey South respectively, argued WSCC ran the risk of recycling decreasing and flytipping increasing.
They described how this would have financial implications for CDC as well as negatively impacting the environment.
They added: “We must work towards waste minimisation and do whatever is needed to facilitate it. Selsey and the Witterings are some way away from Westhampnett and residents may have no choice but to pay a licensed collector so further cuts may have a direct financial impact.”
The council recently came in for huge criticism after cutting £4million from its housing-related support budget – with dire warnings as to the consequences for vulnerable and homeless people.
Now there are plans to cut as much as £1.3m from the remaining £2.3m budget in 2020/21.
This would be achieved by ‘reviewing preventative contracts and restricting the service to statutory responsibilities only’.
West Sussex charities and organisations facing the cuts formed a coalition last year.
Stonepillow chief executive officer Hilary Bartle, who chairs the coalition, said: “These cuts will have a detrimental impact on those most vulnerable people in our communities who are at significant risk of rough sleeping and homelessness. It will inevitably mean loss of services which provide support to these vulnerable groups across West Sussex.
“The coalition is now seeking clarity from WSCC for the reasons behind these new proposed cuts and how these can be mitigated to prevent a significant increase in homelessness and rough sleeping across the county.”
There could also be bad news for foodbanks, Citizens Advice centres and children and family centres with plans to completely cut the Local Assistance Network (LAN) budget.
The budget was reduced from £800,000 to £200,000 this financial year and losing it completely will see foodbanks lose £35,000, children and family centres lose £80,000 and Citizens Advice lose £35,000.
The final £50,000 will be lost from social enterprises – businesses with a community aim.
Also on the list are plans to reduce subsidised bus services by up to £200,000, to reduce the number of hours during which disabled people can use their concessionary bus passes and to stop providing passes for carers/ companions.
This would also save up to £200,000.
Lib Dem county councillor for Midhurst Kate O’kelly, who led the opposition to bus subsidy cuts of £300,000 in 2019/20, said: “The buses that West Sussex support are a lifeline for many of our residents who do not have their own transport. They are a means for the elderly and vulnerable to maintain their independence.
“It is our most vulnerable residents who will be most affected.
“The council continues to consider cuts to services that make communities more resilient. It is short term thinking, we will all pay more for this in the long run.”
Other areas of potential budget savings include £300,000 by reviewing inhouse residential and day care services, up to £4,200,000 by limiting inflationary increase in fees paid to care providers, up to £500,000 by reviewing transport to care services and up to £970,000 by managing demand pressure in services for older people.
The county council is also looking at withdrawing a service to prevent young adults becoming Not in Education Employment or Training and reducing place based highways services to save up to £1.5million.
The authority could also save up to £4.6million by scrapping recycling credits paid to West Sussex’s district and borough councils.
Kevin Hughes, leader of the Labour group at Chichester District Council, said: “When their Tory counterparts in Parliament and their Lib Dem enablers began the vicious austerity regime in 2010, West Sussex Tory county councillors embraced it enthusiastically.
“Now, the disastrous consequences of this are there for all to see. After many years of hardship for thousands of people in our county, the council’s failure to protect its residents has never been clearer.
“Following on from damning reports in vital areas, including the fire service, these latest cuts show that the road is running out for West Sussex Tories.”
The cabinet report suggests ‘accelerating whole council design’ could save up to £5.3million.
This would include shifting demand to cheaper digital
channels, replacing labour intensive manual processes and systems to reduce duplication and transforming work practices through new technology and innovation.
Union UNISON said members were ‘alarmed by much of what is included in the report’ and while it understood why the council would want to look at its budget earlier this year, it questioned the level of transparency with staff and the trade unions.
UNISON’S Caroline Fife explained: “Neither staff or UNISON had been informed of what was in the pipeline. This is now leading to some apologies from managers to staff who are finding out through the media that their jobs may be at risk.
“This destabilises hardpressed services and can cause experienced staff to look for other jobs, which is not helpful.
“We would be fearful that the proposals will undermine the services that the public receive. There are also some things on the list that have been tried before without success.”
She continued: “There is a lot that should be in scope for review but is not listed, such as the council’s expenditure on consultancy and executive salaries and payments.
“Our members will want to see focus on those areas before the essential services they provide to the public and vulnerable people are ceased or diminished.”
Council leader Louise Goldsmith said: “We are in the very early stages of planning next year’s budget in very uncertain financial times, so we need to consider as many options as possible.
“Like many other local authorities across the country, we’re continuing to face unprecedented financial pressures mainly due to the increasing demand on social care services, a reduction in government funding and uncertainty around future funding.
“We have made over £239 million of savings since 2010, with our funding cut £155 million by government but we still have to save £75.5 million over the next four years.”