REBEL Labour councillor Kevin Bennett has dismissed the budget consultation held by Warrington Borough Council as “a sham”.
The Fairfield and Howley councillor, who was suspended by the controlling Labour group for voting against budget cuts says he is still awaiting confirmation on when he will be allowed to return to the fold.
But he is demanding that questions he has asked about the budget be put to the full council on March 3 when members will be asked to approve an average 1.98 per cent council tax increase.
Cllr Bennett (pictured) said he had finally managed to obtain some information on the budget.
He said it would mean up to 75 job losses and service redesigns to help save money.
Yet at the same time it would include investment in the crazy golf course at Walton Hall Gardens.
He said: “According to the information I’ve received, the council has already closed three day care centres, reduced the overall manager numbers by a third, restructured and reduced the team size for respite services for learning disabilities.
“The council is also cutting direct payments to adult social care recipients. These cuts don’t sound like a lot of money but they will be devastating for the people involved.”
Cllr Bennett said the council’s medium term financial plan forecast borrowing figure to fund the capital programme of almost £500m while at the same time the council had millions of £s from investments “sat in the bank”.
The council should be helping people in arrears with council tax payments arising from change to the welfare system.
He understood adult social care was to be “farmed out” to a social enterprise company – a risk, because the company was completely untested.
He wanted to know why the service could not be kept in-house.
Cllr Bennett said he was hoping to receive meaningful replies to many questions he had over the “privatisation” of council services.
In the meantime he was still representing his ward and trying to get a grasp of how devastating this year’s budget cuts would be.
Council budget consultation dismissed as a sham by Labour rebel
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
