The Tory budget for spend in this next year was passed last Thursday with not a whimper of dissent from the Tory ranks. we know that around £17 million was cut with around £35m more over the next 4 years. on top of the national cuts such as the increase in vat to 20%, the extremely high cost of fuel and transport.. everyone will see their budget cut. there are a good number who 'feeling the pinch' will revolve on perhaps only going out to eat twice a week and maybe reducing their holidays to 3 year from 4. for the rest of the ' market will decide' as in any good Tory world.
faced with loosing 6 seats straightaway in may by closing a local library as revealed by the cabinet member at last council.. there had to be a delaying of the announcement until the summer when around £600k is due to come out of libraries.
this Government has 'promised' to maintain central government grant at to the borough wide music service..but this council has cut 4 full time music teacher posts at least.
severe cuts to the care budget leaving those most vulnerable with the bare minimum cover and forking out from their own allowances for such items as transport.
£100k off youth services.. so expect to see more hanging around street corners.
a lot of the cuts happen due to cuts in external grants and it is difficult to uncover all the front line effects which will happen...for example scout groups got £12k a year towards room hire and training costs.. this has now gone.. a kick in the teeth for many 'wrth their weight in gold' volunteers who cost us nothing and do priceless wok in our community.
as usual it will be the lower earners ( stretching into the lower middle earners) who will suffer.. there were ways the cuts could have been cushioned as taking too much too quickly will wreck our communities.
we have lost inevitably this battle.. the war starts with the build up to the May elections. We in Walsall Labour are ready to take on that challenge.. will you join us?
regards
cllr ian robertson
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