SALFORD MAYOR DELAYS CUTS NEWS UNTIL AFTER LOCAL ELECTION - Salford Star

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SALFORD MAYOR DELAYS CUTS NEWS UNTIL AFTER LOCAL ELECTION

Star date: 15th May 2014

COUNCIL CUTS TO MOST VULNERABLE KICKED INTO LONG GRASS UNTIL AFTER ELECTION – THEN TRIES TO BAN PROTEST RALLY ON THE LAWN

Announcement of definite cuts to Salford Council's services for thousands of the most vulnerable people in the city have been delayed until after the local elections being held on May 22nd. Cuts to transport, Care On Call, support for deaf and blind people, and more, have been lumped into a consultation ending on May 26th.

Meanwhile, the Council has tried to ban the community's efforts to draw attention to the proposed cuts with a Protest and Fun Day this Saturday on the Civic Centre lawn - although the event, starring Happy Mondays' Bez, will go ahead as planned.

Full details here…

click image to enlarge

`The Council are using the elections as a front to gag legitimate protest against the cuts...'

Definite news on massive cuts to services for thousands of the most vulnerable people in Salford have been delayed until after next week's local elections which take place on Thursday 22nd May. The Council consultation on cuts to vulnerable Adults Services ends on May 26th.

In private conversations with the Salford Star, Labour councillors have said that they believe the consultation has been timed to avoid the election. And service users are being told before the consultation even ends that their services will be cut – a point confirmed on the official Salford Council website for those using Salford Council transport to day centres…

"Of the total of 204 people, we are already helping 100 adults get alternative transport", the Council states on its `Proposal on changes to services for vulnerable adults' web page.

Other proposed cuts to services for the city's most vulnerable people include…

Care on Call – 4,000 people affected. Those who use the Council's mobile warden service for people living in their own homes will be charged up to £15 a week depending on their use of the service.

Mental Health Floating Support Service - up to 180 people affected. The Council will withdraw all funding to support people with mental health issues who get help for, on average, two or three hours per week for six months.

Supported Tenancy Service – the Council will cease funding for this service which helps prevent people becoming homeless or facing accommodation difficulties.

Home Improvement Agency – the Council will reduce funding for help to older and vulnerable homeowners.

Salford Offender Service – the Council will withdraw funding for advice and support to ex-offenders who need help to find housing.

Deafness Support Network - the Council will withdraw funding for advice and support to deaf and deaf/blind people who need help to find and maintain a home.

Housing Options – the Council will reduce funding for advice to homeless people and those threatened with homelessness.

Welfare Rights and Debt Advice – the Council will reduce funding for help to people needing advice on benefits, tax credits, debt problems and welfare reform changes.

Salford Link Project - the Council will withdraw funding for social day services for older and disabled people from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community.

Salford Mayor Ian Stewart says that the cuts are "heartbreaking but unavoidable", which implies that they will go ahead no matter what the results of the consultation.

Meanwhile, other consultations on cuts to Salford's Sure Start Children's Centres (30th June) and Starting Life Well services (27th June) also end after the local election.

Those at the sharp end of the axe have organised a Rally On The Lawn Protest and Family Fun Day for this Saturday, May 17th beginning at noon, starring Happy Mondays' Bez, Hanky Park's James Davenport and singers Michael Burns and Keelan McNally, plus charity stalls.

Salford Council has banned the event, citing local election rules and permissions – but Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart attended a May Day event on Salford Council land at Bexley Square and on Manchester Council land outside Urbis less than two weeks ago, when those same restrictions were supposed to apply. The Salford Star also understands that no permissions were sought from Salford Council for the Bexley Square event.

Salford Against The Cuts Chair Paul Gerrard issued a statement yesterday saying that the Council should be `ashamed of itself'…

"For four years now the Council has consistently implemented Tory cuts. Despite promises to protect the vulnerable – the disabled, the elderly, children with special needs, adults with mental health problems – these are the very people being under attack. The Council shouldn't be surprised that people are angry, election or no election" he said.

"The Council are using the elections as a front to gag legitimate protest against the cuts" he added "What are they afraid of? Talking to parents of disabled children? We have seen attempts to restrict the right to protest at nearby Barton Moss and we don't want any more. But if Ian Stewart, or any of the other Labour councillors want to come along and speak we will listen to what they have to say.

"A Salford Against Cuts public meeting in April of over 150 people voted for this event to be held this weekend" he explained "The drive for this event has come from people who are at the sharp end of cuts in council provision. They are aiming to raise money for two charities, the Salford City Boys Club and McMillan nurses. The Council are aware of this but won't change their mind. They should be ashamed of themselves.

"This event will go ahead as planned, using the area in front of the Civic Centre" he concluded "We will make our point but we will have a fun day too. We would urge all Salfordians concerned about cuts to come and join us on Saturday."

Gagging protest? Delaying cuts until after the election? People may well be asking what is going on in this city…

* Rally On The Lawn with Bez, Hanky Park's James Davenport, Michael Burns and Keelan McNally
Saturday 17th May noon, Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton

* See also previous Salford Star article on the Rally On The Lawn - click here

** To take part in the `consultation' on the future of adult services for vulnerable people - click here

Main photo by Steven Speed shows Salford Mayor on May Day rally

Tom wrote
at 20:59:12 on 20 May 2014

Reply to Feeling let down by Labour in Salford wrote at 2:01:19 AM on Friday, May 16, 2014 What the heck happened to Ian Stewarts petition He got 750 people to sign it, 250 short! Why not help out by signing the petition? Local offer for children and young people with special educational needs The government is making changes to the special educational needs system. One of these changes is about putting in one place details of all the help, support and activities for children and young people with special educational needs or a disability. This is called the Local Offer. We will be putting Salford’s Local Offer on the council’s website and possibly producing booklets for parents who don’t use the Internet. There is a council project to coordinate and develop the content for Salford’s Local Offer www.salford.gov.uk/localoffer.htm. As part of developing the Local Offer we need to consult with parents and young people with special educational needs or a disability to ensure that we capture their views and requirements about what information they would find useful, and where they would like to get that information. Please could you pass this message to parents of young people with special needs or a disability, and the young people themselves, and ask them to consider completing a questionnaire. A copy is attached to this email, or I can supply paper copies. The questionnaire is also available on-line at www.salford.gov.uk/localoffer.htm. This link also explains more about the Local Offer. Alternatively if it would better meet peoples’ needs, we could attend a meeting to discuss the Local Offer. We would really appreciate any help or advice you can give on this. Please contact me if you would like more information or have any questions.

Wayne wrote
at 22:16:51 on 17 May 2014

Can't wait to get my postal vote through, I will be ticking the UKIP box this time. It's about time the big three parties got a good kick up the arse. They represent no one but themselves and resent everyone but themselves.

Sick of them all wrote
at 16:37:05 on 16 May 2014

More betrayal by this shabby bunch of parasites. Don't vote for any of the usual traitors , Salford People . No votes for the lab/lib/con traitors . There are plenty of alternative candidates . It's time to give them a chance .

noreen bailey wrote
at 09:19:37 on 16 May 2014

it sickens me to know that all parties concerned in our elections fight so bad against each other and insult each other do you ever stop and think that if you all cant come together to talk like intelligent people you are supposed to be instead of arguing between each other like children that has lost their toys how on earth can we trust any of you, you argue and cannot see what you are all doing to this country conservatives you have ruined so many peoples lives through greed and not listening to what this country's people are saying to you people don't want to get up in a morning as they cant face another day in poverty and yes condems this is the mess you have made labour I once admired you but not any more you have let the working people down big time why would you not fight for our rights when we have all asked you to but to no avail all I can say is that you all need to take a good look at our country and see what you have done specially condems this name together says everything you have condemned us to a life of poverty a very angry mum

noreen bailey wrote
at 09:19:17 on 16 May 2014

old age we are merely common people or so we are told we must stay common people till we are very old well little did they notice this government of ours comes lots of strength and wisdom with every passing hour we oldies are not stupid although you think we are we still can hold a licence and drive a big fast car we can give you a run for your money Cameron and cleg and turn the tables on you so you will sit and beg young and old will rally standing side by side to show you all in parliament we wont run and hide so listen too the people and really listen well we will be the ones to bring you down and send you back to hell then us oldies can sit and rest with a smile upon our face and thank all our young people that helped us win this race we will never be beholdened to dictators just like you and maybe then our children can start their lives anew ©noreenbailey2014

Feeling let down by Labour in Salford wrote
at 08:01:19 on 16 May 2014

What the heck happened to Ian Stewarts petition and him taking his delegates on a trip to meet the PM to demand more money for the people of Salford?? Thats gone all quiet?? As soon as I heard Ian Stewart had assigned himself 13 assistants I knew the vote I had cast for him to become Mayor was a big mistake! If only the powers that be worked with the people against the cuts rather than against them by doing things like trying to stop a rally!! I feel let down by Labour in Salford, if only the Mayor and the elected members had the same fighting spirit as those members of the public fighting these cuts - we would get much further! The "Spirit of Salford" that Ian Stewart frequently tweets about will all be stood on the Civic lawn Saturday at 12noon!! Shame he wont see it, and I very much doubt there will be tweets about how proud he is of that!!!

M7 wrote
at 08:01:15 on 16 May 2014

Typical Labour Council fearing of losing votes next week, decide to halt cuts to gain votes back and they'll continue the Cuts after the elections Listen we're Not thick or Stupid here in Salford...too many lies in this council,but were not falling for this one...

Sick of the same old Bull **** wrote
at 21:31:29 on 15 May 2014

What is Mayor Sewerats position regarding the Sure start centres? David Cameron himself has already said that the funding that Salford get for these centres is being INCREASED not cut, so why is Sewerat saying that cuts to these vital starting points in life are "unavoidable". It's just yet more political spin from a shit brained washed out ex MP. Cuts to the Deafness support network to aid finding a home! How little does it cost to provide this vital service? I bet the number of service users for this service is less than 200 so why cut something so vital that is cheap to run? Best bit is Care on call cuts, so Mayor shit for brains slags off the Tories for making old Doris worry about the cost of putting her heating on but could not give a shit if old Doris is worried about the cost of calling out a mobile warden because she has had a fall. And these spineless bastards want my vote, they can go and fook themselves. I could say a lot more about the other "unavoidable" cuts but I don't think any of those seeking re-election for Labour give a toss about the people of Salford because if they did they would stand up to this idiot and render him powerless, they have the power to do that but are just in it for themselves and looking for an "assistant mayor" job after the election. All those loyal to Kim Jong Sewerat will be rewarded.

Mike Kelly wrote
at 21:30:10 on 15 May 2014

Maybe the Mayor is hoping that Kate & Will are to announce another pregnancy..........great opportunity to bury any bad news. Any opportunity to hide the fact that they are just inept.......why not cut funding to the BBC Orchestra or Salford Rugby Club.

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