Dark days ahead

Warwickshire County Council this week announced proposals to save £60 million over the next four years as part of spending cuts demanded by the Government.

The authority plans to save £17 million by cutting management and bureaucracy, £7 million by raising charges, £20 million by ‘reforming’ services and £16 million through “tough” choices - cuts in services and job losses.

These include cuts in funding for police community support officers, speed cameras and turning off street lights in the early hours of the morning.

Up to 1,855 jobs could be lost - almost a quarter of the county council’s workforce outside schools.

Stuart Richards, GMB Organiser said the proposals were “devastating” for both council workers and the wider community.

The union claimed residential and day care for the elderly, disabled and people with learning disabilities and youth services would be among services affected.

It predicted community transport and subsidised evening bus services would be lost and 20 per cent of jobs in adult social care would be lost, with a 30 per cent budget cut for heritage and cultural services.

Mr Richards said: “Our members who work in low paid, front line services are facing huge job losses and the result of these will impact hardest on the poorest and most vulnerable across the county. Despite the government’s assurances, the impact of this will also hit services and jobs in schools.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Jerry Roodhouse (Eastlands and Hillmorton) suggested staff might be able to identify savings by setting up ‘social enterprises’ but Labour councillors declined to comment until they had seen figures.

Labour group leader Cllr June Tandy (Nuneaton Wem Brook) attacked the speed of the Government’s cuts and Cllr Tim Naylor (Lab, Leamington Willes) said: “We will not oppose any suggestions or proposals but we will wait to see the implications.”

Council leader Cllr Alan Farnell (Con, Nuneaton Weddington) said: “None of us come into politics to make cuts.”

Read this week’s Courier for two pages of reports and reaction.