Massive backlash against potential plans to close five Salford nurseries
Angry parents have taken to social media to protest potential plans to close nurseries in Salford.
It's as we told you yesterday- the council announced it needs to save £11.2 million in the next year, that’s an equivalent of £60,000 a day.
Eccles mum Julie Wyper says this child care going could be mean her losing her job- and massive upset to her son.
“They’re needed by so many people, I’m just a working mum that wants the best for her children like so many other parents out there and we’re all going to suffer if the nurseries are closed.
“When I was told on Friday I wanted to cry- I think I’ve felt every emotion possible since then.
“He’d lose so many friends he’s made whilst being at nursery- he’d lose them all and I’d lose the support of the staff.
“If I couldn’t find him another nursery I could potentially lose my job as me and my husband have no-body else to look after him and unfortunately we can’t afford private childcare as we’re on a low income.”
City Mayor Paul Dennett said “We are prioritising protecting frontline services, social care and support to those in most need.
“Decisions on savings proposals are becoming more difficult every year with no sign of this ending. Nationally, resources are being outstripped by steadily rising demand for child support and safeguarding as local authorities struggle with huge budget cuts.”
The council has developed proposed savings which aim to have the least impact possible on frontline services and include:
• Reducing the cost of waste disposal by £683,000 without a change in service
• A saving of just over £140,000 from a review of the library services which will see extra provision of capital investment whilst expanding access to library services across the city
• A saving of £68,000 is proposed by reviewing voluntary severance applications and vacancies in Health Improvement Service and Public Health
The majority of these savings have been made by reducing costs, making one off savings, redesigning services and bringing in additional income. In addition to this there is a proposed council tax increase of 4.99%. That increase is made up of 2.99% core funding and 2% adult social care precept. This will equate to around a £1 per week increase for Band A property owners.
Mayor Dennett said “The council has reviewed all centrally held funds to support the budget and we have still needed to increase council tax to balance the books.
“It is appalling that the government, who throw rhetoric around about cutting taxes for ordinary working people, are expecting local authorities to increase council tax to pay for their cuts.
“2% of the proposed council tax increase is a precept that is ring fenced for adult social care, the option introduced by central government last year to stop social care nationally collapsing through lack of adequate proper funding. It effectively shifted a national problem to local councils and residents.
“The lack of a clear strategy from this government to deal with the crisis in health and social care and respond to pressures on children’s services is moving the burden unreasonably onto our residents.
“We’re starting a review of our Council Tax Reduction Scheme so that we can minimise the impact on people with the least means to contribute, but many residents will still see increased costs.”
“Residents are being hit hard by the impact of government cuts but more so in places like Salford.
“This year we have an extra unexpected burden put on Salford, with changes to government policy on Dedicated Schools Grant which limits the use of the grant to fund in-house early years’ services. This has led to the difficult decision to put forward a review of the future of Local Authority Nurseries.
“Children’s and adults social care services already makes up nearly 43% of our core spending. And an increase in demand is resulting in an extra £5 million being spent on children’s services this year.
“The major ray of light for Salford has been from the economic growth of the city, increasing business rates and council tax income by £4.8 million. Without that income stream, our present situation would be much worse.”
A public consultation will be running on this until September.
Have your say here before the final decision is made by full council in late February.