Every citizen will be hit by cuts warns council leader

Wakefield Council’s Labour leader Peter Box said budget savings of £67m over four years would have a damaging impact on every community and family.

The authority is cutting 500 jobs this year and expects to shed 1,700 over four years, with some compulsory redundancies.

Trade unionists, including teachers, librarians and social workers, shouted their opposition to the cuts during a small but noisy protest outside the Town Hall.

Unison branch secretary Linda Bratley said workers were fearful of further cuts to come, both to services and to jobs.

Librarians were worried about the current review of services and jobs were being lost across the board.

Inside the chamber, Councillor Box said: “The cuts already imposed by this Government are having a real and damaging impact on the lives of our residents.

“Building Schools for the Future – cancelled. Swim4Free – cancelled. And the Future Jobs fund – cancelled.”

Wakefield Council has already started cancelling services as grants have dried up.

The axe is falling on mental health services for children and adolescents and garden waste collections, which will be monthly instead of fortnightly.

Management posts are being axed and schools meals are going up 20p.

Yesterday’s cuts were voted through by all parties but critics questioned the need to cut spending on mental health services while continuing to spend around £60,000 a year on a council newsletter.

The Tory group leader, Mark Crowther said he would “question the Government’s decision to cut so deeply and quickly”.

He suggested that Wakefield needed a cross-party approach to decide on future services. This was dismissed by Coun Box who predicted that his political opponents would be “toast” come the May local elections.