Cllr. Andrew Cann "Tories true priorities shown in cuts to vulnerable". (Ipswich Liberal Democrats)

Ipswich Liberal Democrats <info@ipswichlibdems.org.uk>

Cllr. Andrew Cann "Tories true priorities shown in cuts to vulnerable".

July 13, 2006 4:34 PM

Cllr. Andrew Cann "Tory cuts show their real priorities".

The following letter appeared in the Evening Star, Wednesday 12th July 2006

Suffolk County Councils cuts to Age Concern ACCESS (see Evening Star July 1st) have exposed what a Tory run council believes it's priorities to be. Whilst Cllr. Graham Newman is right to point out that the budgetary pressures at the Tory led County Council are the result of a devastating lack of funding from the Government he is wrong to say that £14.5m of cuts 'has to come from adult and community services'. In fact the Conservatives had many choices:-

1) Rather than applying 10% cuts across all departments they could have chosen to prioritise services to the vulnerable, such as ACCESS rather than backroom activities.

2) Real savings could have been made rather than cuts to essential services. For instance does the County Council need to spend over £100,000 per year on new furniture at Endeavour House when it has only been occupied for 3 years? Does the County Council need to spend £5.2m per year on Car Allowances?

3) The Conservative administration had £1m extra it could have spent if it had wished, this was financial headroom under the government imposed 5% cap. They chose not to direct this to services to the vulnerable.

Whilst I have sympathy for Cllr. Newmans predicament in managing cuts due to the woleful government settlement he should remember that the cuts were Tory cuts and they chose to let them fall on the vulnerabl to the extent that they have.

Cllr. Andrew Cann

Deputy Leader, Suffolk County Council Liberal Democrats