Shropshire Council services to be cut in bid to save £2 million

Shropshire Council is making changes to a number of the non-mandatory services it provides, including Help2Slim and Help2Change.

The authority's Health and Wellbeing Board noted the changes at a meeting in Shirehall on Thursday and endorsed the ambition to redesign and co-produce a new model of public health delivery in Shropshire.

Andy Begley, director of adult services, said: "This is an ambitious savings agenda which affects non-mandarted services. We don't have an obligation to deliver them, however, often things have been delivered for years.

"There is concern around Help2Change, in particular smoking in pregnancy. So what we're trying to work out now is funding it for the next financial year and then how best to configure them going forward."

The Public Health funding for the CCTV in Shrewsbury town centre will also be stopped.

Mr Begley added: "To be clear the is the end of public health contributions towards the CCTV. It is in no way a comment on the value of it. It is valued by a number of agencies who use it

"Shrewsbury Town Council, the police and other agencies will now look at how this might be resolved."

Staff were told by council bosses on Tuesday that there was a possibility they could be made redundant unless somebody was found to step in and fund the service.

Seb Slater, executive director at Shrewsbury BID, said: "Businesses are understandably concerned by news of the review by Shropshire Council of CCTV in Shrewsbury.

"The CCTV provision in Shrewsbury town centre is hugely valued by the business community - not only as a tool for maintaining public safety and reducing crime but also the crucial role in plays in the wider economic and social well-being of our town.

"Shrewsbury BID are in discussions with senior officials at Shropshire Council and are fully committed to representing the business community and working with Team Shrewsbury partners to retain this absolutely vital service for the town centre."