Cuts essential — or council goes bust

DIFFICULT decisions have to be made if Oldham Council is to bridge a £17.3 million gap in its budget.

That is the view of the borough’s ruling Lib-Dem group which has drawn up a list of options to save money.

Cuts discussed at the overview and scrutiny committee’s performance and value for money select committee include the closure of the High Barn Day Centre, Royton, which would save £350,000.

Councillor Bernard Judge (Labour) said: “This centre keeps people out of long-term care and gives them a better quality of life. I think its closure would come back to haunt us and affect some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.”

Veronica Jackson, executive director for adult and community services, said the centre’s users would have their needs reassessed and alternative options offered.

She added: “Day-care services are there to help people to engage with their community and are not necessarily a long-term option.

“We appreciate that this cut will have an impact but we also have to appreciate that budget cuts must be made.”

A further suggestion is to cut the budget for the provision of care packages to save £300,000, but some councillors felt that this would lead to a double hit on vulnerable residents.

Libraries could also come under threat with the possible closure of Stoneleigh and Broadway, as well as moving Greenfield library. This would save £50,000.

A major restructuring of youth-service provision was suggested by the children, young people and families department, saving £660,000.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for this department, said: “Some of our children are getting a Rolls Royce service while others are getting public transport.

“We need to make sure there is more equality and look at using the facilities more efficiently.”

A move to cut the number of lollipop staff close to the borough’s schools was met with great disapproval.

Councillor Ateeque Ur Rehman said: “Children get very excited when it comes to home time and the last thing on their minds is being safe on the roads.

“We are gambling with lives by removing vital crossing patrol staff to save £30,000. I would be strongly against making cuts in this area.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We have followed guidelines on this and would only remove patrol staff on the least busy routes.”

Consultant KPMG has been looking at ways to cut the council’s budget for 2009-10 and will present its findings next month.

Chief executive Charlie Parker has said that the council is overstaffed by between 10 and 23 per cent and redundancies across all sectors are likely.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “We simply must find ways to make these essential cuts or Oldham Council will go bust.”