Tory budget plan to limit adult care cuts in Telford
Tories in Telford & Wrekin today published an alternative budget which they claim would limit the cuts to adult social services and improve the borough's roads.
The Conservative group has produced a full-scale alternative budget for the first time.
It will be tabled alongside the Labour administration's proposals at the full council meeting on February 27.
The Tories support the council tax freeze but would scrap the council's Pride in Your Community Programme, which would see £9.5 million investment in projects over two years.
Labour says the programme would provide "social and physical improvements" to the borough to tackle issues like youth unemployment.
But members of the Tory group say it would be merely "window dressing". They would also cut the budget for adult social care by £4.7 million instead of the proposed £7 million and would invest £7 million a year in highways.
Conservative group leader Councillor Andrew Eade said: "The Labour administration's budget is fundamentally flawed as it seeks to spend huge amounts of money on short-term environmental fixes in the borough whilst making swingeing cuts to adult social services, which will affect both the elderly, vulnerable and carers alike.
"Its proposed expenditure on our roads will not even keep pace with maintenance needs, which will continue to deteriorate, despite their hollow promise to improve our highways."
The Conservative group says it would save £1.5 million by reducing sick pay arrangements for council staff, implementing a 2.25 per cent reduction in pay grades and reducing allowances.
Councillor Adrian Lawrence, Conservative shadow cabinet member for resources, said: "In fully recognising the workloads that have been placed upon council staff following successive restructuring and redundancies, which have cut 1,075 jobs since 2009, we very are keen to avoid further staff reductions which will adversely impact on services.
"However, we also accept the need for securing and protecting vital services to vulnerable people in the borough and, at the same time, start repairing our infrastructure."
The Tories, who will publish full details of their budget online, said they support a budget of £1.3 million to tackle youth unemployment and a £1.2 million reduction in the budget to support children in care.
Labour today said that the Tory budget was "hypocritical and flawed". Leader Councillor Kuldip Sahota said the alternative budget was built around Labour's growth.
He added: "Members of the Conservative group have clearly made a choice in their alternative budget to agree our plan for growth and capital receipt, plans that they have consistently opposed over the last three years."
