Telford & Wrekin Council's £9m budget cut plans scrutinised
Proposals which would see Telford & Wrekin Council cut a further £9 million from its budget next year were put under the microscope.
The council is proposing to save half that figure by cutting adult care costs.
The authority's cross-party budget and finance scrutiny committee met at Addenbrooke House in Telford town centre last night and members grilled Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for finance and enterprise, on the proposals.
Cottage Care business manager Vicky Brain said people using a day centre in Wellington were having to cut sessions short. Social service money had been cut, leaving many not able to afford the £33 a day.
Ms Brain said: "We are finding now people are having their care packages looked at and, nearly always, when there is a calculation of how much funding they are going to have it is a smaller figure than it was before."
Councillor McClements said: "One of the biggest things is getting more people being looked after by personal assistants, keeping people in their own homes and supporting people in their homes, which is better for them."
He also hit back at opposition leader Councillor Andrew Eade, whose alternative budget proposals include scrapping the community pride fund to help fund adult social care.
Councillor McClements said the money would only stop cuts for "nine weeks".
But Councillor Eade – whose alternative budget was given the thumbs up as being workable in principle at a scrutiny meeting last week – said: "We see protecting adult social care as one of our primary concerns."
Final recommendations will be considered at cabinet later this month.
