Councillor: ‘Another 330 jobs going at Warwickshire Council’

[dutchman]

A Warwickshire county councillor has told Mercia another 330 jobs are set to go there.


Cllr Penny Bould

It’s claimed the losses would be on top of the 1,850 positions the council has already admitted may need to go over the next 4 years as they make massive cutbacks.

Cllr Penny Bould says the move is part of proposals to scrap £7.5 million pounds from the budget for Children, Young People and Families:

“We in the Labour Group opposed these savage cuts which are too severe and so swift and will hit some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

“It is an insult to people’s intelligence to talk about “transforming” services when the word should be cuts!

“We quizzed the Tory leadership about the impact of these cuts, especially on vulnerable people, but felt that their response was disappointing.”

“It’s too much too quick and it is damaging services. Youth workers need to build up relationships with young people to help for example to prevent teenage pregnancies: good role models instead of potential gang leadership.”

"...loss of government grants"

Warwickshire County Council say the figures are actually included within the 1,850 estimate and the cuts have come about because of the loss of government grants.


Cllr Alan Farnell

Cllr Alan Farnell, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “We cannot escape the fact that the national legacy of spending £120 million a day of public money on debt repayments has put unprecedented financial pressures on local authorities.

“Warwickshire has had to play its part in tackling the national deficit head on, and tough decisions have had to be made to put the country on a firmer financial footing. We are now seeing Government policy reducing the deficit and boldly reforming public services to stimulate growth and deliver a fairer and more effective use of public money.

“I must stress that a significant number of the 330 posts mentioned in the council report have already been included our previous calculations, and of the remaining posts many will hopefully be met through natural turnover or redeployment. Our priorities remain squarely with providing services for the most vulnerable people and we remain committed to doing our best for the people of Warwickshire.”