Concerns as new cuts to hit adult services in Telford

About 100 members of the public and interested groups attended a budget consultation event at Oakengates Theatre last night to discuss Telford & Wrekin's financial plan.

The proposed budget aims to make savings of more than £10.5 million over the next two years from the adult services budget – which provides services for vulnerable people – and more than £1 million from the borough's integrated transport services.

Ian Roberts, 58, a member of the Shropshire Disability Network, was at the event.

He said: "I appreciate the council are forced into a position where they have got to take cuts, but it is getting to the stage where they've done all the easier cuts and now it is going to affect people like the disabled, the elderly and the young.

Ripple

"Integrated transport, for example, has the ability to affect all of those groups. If older people are using the service to go to day care centres, it also gives their carers a bit of respite, so it's like a ripple effect."

Susan Jenkins, 66, from Sutton Hill, said: "I think the council do good work under the severe limitations put on them. We are very lucky in Telford as we have some very good services, but I want to see them get better."

The council proposes to freeze council tax while launching a two-year £15m investment programme targeting the environment and youth unemployment, as well as continuing its programme to attract more business into the borough.

At the same time, the council said it must cut a further £22 million by 2016 from its budget because of cuts in Government grants. The council has already made £51 million of savings since 2009/2010. The gap between the cash the council would receive this year and what it needed to maintain services was £11.4 million, with a further £11 million gap expected next year.

Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for finance and enterprise, said recent boosts to business in Telford have added more than £110 million to the local economy. He said: "Telford is growing at almost double the national average and that is something we need to work on."

A group of members of Telford's new political party, The People First Party staged a protest outside the meeting.

Wellington Town Councillor, Pat McCar-thy, a member of the group, said: "We are arguing there is an alternative to austerity."

Public consultation on the budget ends on February 4. Have your say on the budget by visiting www.telford.gov.uk/budget