Union protests ‘savage cuts’ to council services

A YORKSHIRE council is pressing ahead with plans to slash its budget by £109m over the next three years despite warnings from town hall union Unison that services will suffer “savage cuts” as a result.
UNISON leading a lobby outside Doncasters Civic OfficesUNISON leading a lobby outside Doncasters Civic Offices
UNISON leading a lobby outside Doncasters Civic Offices

Unison led a lobby of yesterday’s Doncaster Council cabinet meeting which agreed dramatic reductions in spending, including £38m cut from the 2014/15 budget.

The union, which presented a petition at the meeting signed by more than 3,000 people protesting the cuts, said all the council-run residential homes for the elderly could close, with children’s centres and libraries among other services under threat.

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A spokesman said: “The petition voices the anger of the people of Doncaster at the savage cuts being forced upon the council by the policies of the Coalition government.”

Doncaster’s Labour elected mayor, Ros Jones, said: “I didn’t get into politics to cut services and it is with reluctance that I have put forward some of these budget proposals. Unfortunately the government has chosen to force savage and disproportionate cuts on Doncaster, and Councils in other parts of Yorkshire, slashing our funding in half. The scale of these cuts means that they can’t be met without changing the way that front line services are provided.

“Doncaster needs a responsible Mayor in these difficult times and I will ensure that we propose a balanced budget, which minimises the impact of these central government cuts on local people. I totally understand that the proposals will cause some concern, particularly amongst residents who will be affected. Whilst tough decisions do have to be made, I want us to work with the public and ensure that any proposals agreed are implemented with care and sensitivity.

The budget proposals will be subject to final approval at a meeting of the full council on February 20.

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Leeds City Council will publish budget proposals today which will see cuts of £50m and a 1.99 per cent rise on council tax bills.

Council leader Keith Wakefield has warned essential services could soon be at risk.