Party attacks Tory idea to cut £5.5m from adult services (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Party attacks Tory idea to cut £5.5m from adult services

7:11pm Tuesday 26th January 2010

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A row has broken out among the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats over the process of setting next year’s Bradford Council budget.

The war of words was sparked by comments from the Lib Dem group’s deputy leader, Councillor David Ward, about proposals to axe more than £5 million from the budget for adult services.

In previous years the Lib Dems have been instrumental in helping the 36-seat strong Tories maintain control on the Council and the two groups have in the past worked to prepare a joint budget they can both agree on.

But the Lib Dems’ main priorities include adult services and education, putting the two groups on a collision course.

Coun Ward told the Telegraph & Argus: “This budget is under huge pressure with people living longer, an increasing number of people with learning difficulties and people requiring more care as they get older.

“They need £5.5 million to cope with everything from adults with learning difficulties and school leavers with physical disabilities to continuing care for older people.

“The director has come up with ways to find this money but many of them are unacceptable, including cuts for the voluntary sector and increased charges for home care. Yet the Conservative group appears to have accepted them without question.

“There have been concerns recently about the standard of care offered to residents of care homes, including three deaths which have been investigated. The last thing we need is to cut adult services so severely that they can’t do what we expect them to do.”

But his remarks were last night dismissed by Conservative group leader Councillor Kris Hopkins, who has already warned of “massive financial restrictions” this year.

He said: “No final decisions have yet been made on the budget, as Coun Ward is very well aware.

“I suspect his comments are more geared towards attracting headlines for himself rather than making a positive contribution to the budget process.”

Commenting on Coun Ward’s statement, Councillor Imran Hussain, the Labour group’s deputy leader, said: “This is pretty rich when last year he and his party voted through a Tory budget that made over £3 million in cuts to adult services.

“The Labour group is currently considering its budget proposals.”

A “budget” Council meeting will be held on Thursday, February 25, when a decision must be made.

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