Council cuts will hit the most vulnerable residents

Finally RBWM Tories have been forced to reveal the truth regarding the financial incompetence of the last eight years.

To attempt to fill the nearly £12m black hole, they are looking to make sweeping cuts to services that will impact all residents and particularly our most vulnerable.

The suggested proposals include:

▪ Remove the parking discount for RBWM residents;

▪ Cut the number of community wardens;

▪ Charging upwards of £50 per parking permit and charge for visitor permits;

▪ Cut youth and early years services;

▪ Cut grants including The Old Court and Norden Farm;

▪ Cut council tax discount for the working vulnerable;

▪ Cut library opening times;

▪ Cut all non statutory services such as GROW & STRIVE that help residents.

The officer core has been hollowed out and there are huge gaps in skill set and experience to physically run the council.

The opposition raised their concerns that the finances were not sustainable or resilient but were lectured time and time again about ‘the council’s innovative and prudent management’, and how ‘the council entered these challenging few years with finances fit for purpose’.

Less than two years ago we were being told that parking charges for residents would not rise, parking permits would continue to be free, libraries would be open longer, numbers of community wardens would be increased and the pension fund deficit would be repaid.

We were told that we had an ‘excellent level of reserves’ that would cover all eventualities.

This has taken place to facilitate sound-bites around ‘lowest council tax’ and photos of smug, smiling Conservative councillors outside the town hall, with the obligatory banners.

Was it the incompetence of the Tories, who voted these budgets through without challenge ... or was it political expediency to ensure they kept their seats for another term by misleading residents so badly?

Cllr LYNNE JONES Leader of the Local Independents