Street wardens facing the chop in Coventry City Council cuts

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Neighbourhood wardens who patrol communities tackling crime and anti-social behaviour face the axe in council cuts.



Coventry City Council leaders have announced proposals to end the Neighbourhood Action service and cut the wardens.

The wardens have long been described as the “eyes and ears” of communities – providing help to neighbours, or challenging dog fouling, littering and graffiti, and working with the police to tackle crime.

Labour council leaders say they have no choice but to find budget savings in response to unprecedented government funding cuts.

The service – and parts of the council’s health development unit – would be replaced with a new “Community Development Service” focusing on the most disadvantaged communities.

It would employ some new “neighbourhood enforcement officers” in a bid to prevent rises in crime and anti-social behaviour from axing neighbourhood wardens.

Three new caseworkers would also be employed to work with the police on community safety issues.

But the £800,000-a-year savings proposals would see a net loss of around 30 jobs.

About 60 current posts would be hit, and 30 new ones created.

The Labour-run cabinet is next week set to approve a four-week public consultation. The changes could be made by next January.

Council deputy leader Phil Townshend, cabinet member for community safety and equalities, said: “The council is facing reductions in funding from central government, and is compelled to look at alternative ways of delivering services at a lower cost.

“For example, in our community services directorate where these services sit, we have to find savings of £22.5 million over the next three years so we are going to face many difficult decisions.

“However, the new community development service could offer real opportunities and support for people living in the city, particularly those in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

“The new service will be able to provide support for neighbourhoods across the city that do not receive any such support.”

The council’s neighbourhood wardens also advise the public on crime prevention, neighbourhood watch schemes and support to victims of crime.

“They are are billed as the “first point of contact in dealing with minor incidents of anti-social behaviour and neighbour disputes, in partnership with other agencies”.

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Council meet Foleshill residents to discuss plans to axe street wardens



Coventry City Council officers will attend a meeting of the Foleshill Neighbourhood Forum to discuss controversial proposals to get rid of street wardens.

A petition has been mounted against the cost-cutting plan by the vicar of the local St Paul’s Church, the Rev Hanna Woodall, who previously told the Telegraph the wardens were “the answer to everyone’s prayers”.

Now city council officers will attend the public meeting to outline the results of the Neighbourhood Working Review and the council plan to bring in ‘enforcement officers’ instead.

The meeting takes place at St Paul’s community hall, in Foleshill Road, from 7pm on Wednesday September 18.

There will also be a discussion about some of the shop frontages on Foleshill Road, and action the council is due to take to crack down on unauthorised development there.

Officers from the local policing team will also give a briefing on any crime and disorder problems in the neighbourhood.