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SALFORD COUNCIL £55MILLION CUTS MASSACRE CONTINUES
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Star date: 14th January 2015 NOW CHILDREN TAKE THE AXE... "The most savage attack to date on council services..." Salford City UNISON Having already announced the slashing of adult social care budgets, children are the latest target as Salford Council reveals another £6.3million of cuts on top of the £37.6million listed in November. There is a new `review' of services for children with disabilities, an increase in charges for Council run nurseries and more cuts to its 0-19 service. Meanwhile, hundreds of jobs will be cut as Council staff trade union, Salford City UNISON, says it "will work with any groups who are sincerely committed to challenging these cuts"... Full details here...
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"What makes these proposals so particularly shocking is not only their scale, but also the fact that the £31m for 2015/16 and the further £24m planned for 2016/17 could be delivered under a Labour Government..." Salford City UNISON In the wake of horrendous ConDem Government financial attacks on local authorities, back in November Salford City Council announced £37.6million of cuts over the next two years, which included the slashing of services for the old, the young, the sick and the vulnerable (see previous Salford Star article for full details – click here). Now it has tweaked that budget a bit and added a further £6.3million of cuts, with another £11.141million still to be announced for the year 2016-17. Amongst the new proposals is a £190,000 budget reduction in services for children with disabilities, with `efficiencies' coming from a `review' of `personalised budgets linked to needs assessments'. The Council argues that the £190,000 cut will "provide greater control and choice of support to families". There's also a £60,000 increase in cuts to the Council's 0-19 service, taking the total to £1.5million. This service includes family support workers involved in low level child protection. Another £500,000 is to be cut from the `looked after children' service, taking it to a whopping £2.45million which the Council states will `maximise high quality placements'. A £120,000 cut in transport for young people with Special Educational Needs has already been announced. Meanwhile, those who pay for having their children in Council run nurseries will probably see an increase in charges following a `review' to save £50,000. Neighbourhood Services are one of the biggest losers in the tweaked budget, the proposed cut rising from £130,000 announced in November to a huge £430,000, as the Council looks to `alternative ways to deliver neighbourhood facing services', with people expected to `organise and support themselves'. There's reductions in cuts to the Stop Smoking and Obesity reduction services previously announced and rises in cuts to management posts, while grants from outside bodies and the Manchester Airport windfall increase income, staving off even more cuts. However, hundreds of Council staff jobs are to go as the Council proposes a further £555,000 staff `saving' on top of the £500,000 previously listed. Responding to the cuts, Salford City UNISON has issued the following statement... "The final proposals released yesterday by Salford City Council represent what – if implemented - could be the most savage attack to date on council services in our city. £31m of cuts in a single-year – after what we have already experienced – will devastate the lives of those impacted. What makes these proposals so particularly shocking is not only their scale, but also the fact that the £31m for 2015/16 and the further £24m planned for 2016/17 could be delivered under a Labour Government. "For the last four years Salford's Labour representatives have castigated the coalition Government for what they have delivered upon the people of Salford. UNISON believes the councillors and the Mayor could have delivered more than strong words, but we never disagreed with their criticisms of a Government determined to make the poor pay for the crimes of the rich. What is their message now for a Labour leadership determined to deliver the same level of cuts? If attacks on the most deprived areas of the country are wrong under the Tories, then they must surely be even more wrong under Labour? "Salford City UNISON will now embark on an exercise to deliver the views of our members to this council before any decisions are made. We would ask them to listen – not only to us, but to the people of this city who cannot take any more. Our first step to coordinate resistance will be our Annual General Meeting on 5th February (to which all our members are invited). After that (and before if possible) we will work with any groups who are sincerely committed to challenging these cuts. While we accept that Salford's Labour Group may not be joining us in that locally, we do hope they will join us in openly challenging austerity nationally – regardless of which political party is proposing it." The full list of cuts is available on the Salford Council website (click here) and people can make comments up to 30th January by emailing talkbudget@salford.gov.uk Graphic by Steven Speed
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Henry smith wrote
at 15:21:10 on 22 February 2015 |
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| Paul Quinn is quite right .
Get rid of mayor greedy and his rats .
Cut lucrative councillor expenses.
Pay no more than a maximum salary of £50,000 .
If the overpaid rats dont like it , then let them leave .
Don't let the door slam on your way out of Salford. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 06:07:59 on 30 January 2015 |
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| I really don't need any help "Dave". I give you facts, you call me names. Where is the "argument"? |
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Salford Star wrote
at 13:23:49 on 29 January 2015 |
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| See David Cameron's comment below - yes we did block your comment as it was total untruths. If you'd been brave enough to put your email address we would have explained it to you. But you hide behind a false name and no contact details. |
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David Cameron wrote
at 13:20:57 on 29 January 2015 |
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| @ Bernard, did replie, but blocked, don't know why, nothing controversial, must be nice having friends at the star protecting your back, every little helps,as tesco say, what ever helps you try to win a argument. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 14:06:59 on 25 January 2015 |
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| Resorting to name calling just shows how bereft of an argument you are Dave. The last published figures for firearms offences were published in 2013. I base the figures on those published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Just because people can get hold of illegally owned guns is no reason to relax a ban. Follow that logic and we should legalise robbery because there is so much of it about. Though it is clear logic is not your strong point. |
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David cameron wrote
at 13:07:44 on 25 January 2015 |
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| Bernard you poor thing, you need to get out a bit more and stop socialising with brain dead leftwing limp wristed socialists, this ideology is rotting your brain and seeing you don't have much to begin with, you need to preserves what little you have left. You quote 2012 as having a 15% drop in gun crime, but what do you base these figures on, is this people using guns in robberies, the use of guns to threaten people. How many people were killed by guns in this year Bernard, you see Bernard in 2011 there could have been just as many killing and less robberies and threats, but by 2012 killing could be the same or have increased and threats by people carrying guns drops, but try telling the parents of kids who have been killed, that statistics show that gun crime is falling and that there kid dying was just unfortunate. Bernard going back to the original question I ask, what difference did banning legal firearms have on illegal owned guns, well the answer is none. The ban on legal firearms was just done out of spite by the leftwing socialist Labour Party, Bernard when the ban came in after dunblane, around 1996/97 how many murders with guns have happened, since this date, it's coming up to nearly 20 years since the ban on legal gun ownership and Bernard you come up with one year since the ban to try to prove a point, what about all the other years, I think I have proven my point that banning legal gun ownership made no difference to gun crime, illegal gun crime is rife with or without a ban. Growing support for left wing policies, yes the GREEN party has seen a large increase in its membership since they announced they are to legalise all illegal drugs and lower the age of sexual consent to stop paedophiles from being arrested, I noticed the Labour Party saw a massive loss in membership when the greens introduced the last proposal. On the name calling, wasn't you who used the words nazi, goosestepping, fascist, or on another page when someone called the end, you said first name would't be bell would it, I think kettle and pot spring to mind Bernard, don't give it out if you carn't take, but personally I don't mind you using these word against me when your loosing the argument, it's understandable.
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 13:29:31 on 23 January 2015 |
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| "Dave" I gave a source showing the growing support for left wing policies (International Business Times). As for gun crime growing you are wrong yet again. Figures for 2013 showed a 15% drop on the previous year (ONS). The facts and figures are out there "Dave", all you need to do is read them. It could be that when you come up with information that does not fit in with your version of reality you ignore that information. Then again why let facts come into it when you can just resort to name calling. |
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David cameron wrote
at 09:15:40 on 22 January 2015 |
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| Is this the same Bernard brough, who read a short article in the star on a teachers strike, who got it completely arse up and then went on a "off his head rant" at everyone who read it correctly the same Bernard that called people compleat morons for not being able to read, but then got some almighty stick from those people and they quite rightly pointed out that it was you Bernard who could't read and that all the facts you quoted were completely wrong( not for the first time, thought) and then you had to come back on, tail between your legs and apologise. Are you that Bernard, Bernard, the one who is now trying to quote facts and figures, but who has trouble reading short articles, where did you get these facts and figures Bernard, the book of socialist facts and figures, must have been the same book the Labour Party used when they were in power, no wonder they bankrupted the country. Tell you some proper facts Bernard, illegal gun crime is out of control, fact. Having a firearm ban didn't make one jot to illegal guns on the street, they went up, fact. The welsh NHS is on it's knees, labour is controlling the welsh NHS, fact. The socialism ideology is dead, fact. And Bernard still talks shit, fact. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 13:01:37 on 21 January 2015 |
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| "Dave", which party gave us the NHS? Which parties will dismantle the NHS? On your rant on guns (I don't believe that I am having to explain that gun ownership is a bad thing) here are some statistics for you; Switzerland %of homicides committed by firearm %72 England %6.6, rank in table of gun ownership Switzerland 3, England and Wales 88. As I said back your rants up with some facts before you start typing. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 11:33:49 on 20 January 2015 |
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| "Dave", the difference between you and me is that I actually back up what I say with evidence. You just go on ranting.
Anon, while I agree that the conmen government are selective in how they distribute funding it still does not explain how our City Council can throw money at fourth rate sports club and vanity projects while cutting essential services. |
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Michael Felse wrote
at 14:29:06 on 19 January 2015 |
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| I predict a victory for Labour in the Salford local election - showing that we voters in Salford do in fact put blame at the door of the Tories for cuts savagely forced on our Council. However, I predict a victory for UKiP in the Salford Member of Parliament election as traditional Tory voters move to vote UKiP along with disaffected Liberal and antagonised Labour voters. I think this was a silly year to put up a new name by Labour when votes at us last General Election show that Labour stands on very shaky ground. |
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Anon wrote
at 06:28:27 on 19 January 2015 |
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| you're wrong Bernard. Most services are set down by legislation, the few that aren't are vulnerable which leaves precious little choice for councils to decide how and where to cut. It also doesn't help that the biggest cuts have been handed out to deprived urban authorities whilst some of the most affluent have seen their spending maintained or even increased. |
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David cameron wrote
at 06:28:22 on 19 January 2015 |
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Bernard what are you smoking, you say the majority of the British public favour a more left wing type politics, then you call the Labour Party a right wing party, let's say for arguments sake your right, labour is right wing, and let's say you are right that that the people of this country favour a left wing party, then why in every major poll the three top top parties in those polls are as listed Tories/labour neck and neck followed by ukip in third place, so which if these parties represent the leftwing. going by your analysis. Bernard just because you've got it in your own small mind that the country is socialist, in the land of reality it is quiet the opposite, but you stick to la la land if it makes you feel safe and sound. Common sense 2, socialism 0. |
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David Cameron wrote
at 06:28:13 on 19 January 2015 |
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| @bernard. After dunblane the socialist Labour Party made owning certain firearms illegal for legitimate owners, a nee jerk reaction, as most killing and murders as then and as now are committed by people who carry illegal firearms, but the ideology of socialism is to punish the people who abide by the law of land, tell me Bernard when the socialist left, out of spite prevented law abiding people from owning certain firearms, has illegal firearm use gone up or down, did the people who died in Paris were they killed with a legal assault rifle or an illegal one, you see Bernard taking away someone's legal hobby didn't make one bit of difference to gun crime, it's still rising. On the NHS what's the situation in Wales, why are the welsh people flooding across the border into England to use the English NHS, be cause the welsh NHS is going down the pan and who runs the welsh NHS, yes Bernard the labour socialist party, so it won't be safe in the hands of the socialists ether. Ps Bernard the people of Switzerland have to do two years national service and after doing their national service they have to by law, have to take home the m16 assault rifle, incase there country is invaded, how many mass murders happen over there how many gangsters and general scum bags are walking the streets, seems your typical terrorists or scum bags only thrive when there confronted with weak people and weak politicians and leaders. Common sense 1, socialism 0. Need anymore help Bernard don't hesitate to ask, we'll cure you of that horrible affliction known as socialism one day. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 18:21:32 on 18 January 2015 |
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| Anon, the point is that the Council can decide where to make cuts so rather than hit the most vulnerable they could make cuts elsewhere. Look at the money gifted to Salford Reds or the money lost in revenue from developers. Until we have a council that truly represents the people of this city then the gravy train for the rich will continue to roll. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 18:21:22 on 18 January 2015 |
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| OK "Dave" so you can't. Here's the thing. when people realise UKIP's agenda support for UKIP will plummet. Privatise the NHS,legalise handguns, who in their right mind would vote for lunacy like that? Watch out for Farage flip flopping from one "policy" to the next. Recent research show that the British public favour a more left wing agenda; state control of utilities and transport, massive opposition to NHS privatisation, renationalisation of energy companies and Royal Mail. Far from moving ever to the right the Labour Party should realign itself and adopt more left wing policies and implement them. Only then can this country be run for the benefit of all, not just the top one percent of money makers. Source International Business Times. |
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Anon wrote
at 10:11:11 on 18 January 2015 |
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| Weird headline. These cuts are imposed by central government. Local government has its hand tied as most of its budget is made up from centrally distributed funds and most of its services are statutory ie they are obliged to provide them by law (in other words they are dictated by the government). People don't realise how little autonomy local councils actually have. |
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David Cameron wrote
at 10:09:58 on 18 January 2015 |
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| @bernard, to many to mention, not got anought time to list them, go through the stars archive, buy a box of a ankies first, it's not nice seeing socialism taken apart. Ukip on the rise, socialists parties and groups didn't get out of double figures in the local elections, fact. Ukip second and rising, socialist groups fourth, fifth and falling. |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 10:59:14 on 16 January 2015 |
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| Fact is Dave, or whatever your name is, second is nowhere. When will you wake up to UKIP's real agenda? Privatisation of the NHS, reducing employment rights, legalise handguns, blow up wind farms. Any working class man or woman who votes for this bunch of goose stepping morons needs to run, not walk to the nearest psychiatrist. As for you shooting down arguments, name one. |
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David cameron wrote
at 09:28:26 on 16 January 2015 |
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Who woke Bernard brough up, fact is Bernard ukip came second in every ward they entered in salford exept two and that from a standing start considering they are a new party. What stops political change in salford is all these pathetic small protest parties and organisations that throw there hat into the ring that have no hope in hell of winning a seat. We have had these discussions before Bernard and on each occasion shot your argument down, the sad fact Bernard, your socialism you keep crying out for has been consigned to the history books, it failed, get over it. Ps, how's that great socialist country France doing. @ down but not out and d cigar, well said.@ Michael felse, still drinking from the toilet I see, what party are you representing now mr false, thought you fecked off to Bermingham, or have they had enough of your winding up bull shit. As pointed out the condems have set a budget for the whole country to live within and every council up and down the country are having to make cutbacks, it is not up to the Tories to tell local authority's were to make those cuts, it is up to the councillors in those authorities, in Salford's case the ruling party is the LABOUR party who have decided that these cuts should fall on the poorest and most vulnarable in our society. Labours thinking for this is, if they hit the most vulnerable in salford and blame it on the Tories this will increase the labour vote, but whilst we have voters like Bernard and false with low thinking ability in salford then labour will continue to rule salford and not for the better.
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Salford Lad wrote
at 05:33:15 on 16 January 2015 |
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| Austerity is a rich mans silly game, a completely discredited economic strategy, that causes ordinary people huge problems that could easily be avoided with a much more practical, common sense and compassionate economic strategy, is it any wonder that people are joining the Green Party in droves as the only one of "The Big Five" that have an alternative to austerity, today they overtook both Lib Dems and UKIP in terms of numbers of members, I hope that 2015 is the year that all parties and organisations that are opposed to austerity in Salford work together as some people are forecasting 2015 as the year that we defeat austerity and, imho, this can be achieved through people working together in the best interests of the Salford people |
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down but not out wrote
at 22:22:40 on 15 January 2015 |
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| M Felse, we are all entitled to our opinion but for our sakes, wake up and smell the coffee. Do you think it's ok that money taken from taxes for the most vulnerable,which is taken without a blink of an eye and GIVEN to a millionaire at Salford Reds or to other money makers? Right now the Council is wanting to take money again from young people with disabilities so they will have to learn to get to their destination under their own steam which will make them so vulnerable, and cutting child protection, to name but a few! Do you think that this is fair? Because of the state of our economy, radical cuts have had to be made, but the less fortunate are not to blame for this its the bankers and all those who fill their own pockets before thinking of others! Yes the Conservatives have been radical (and I'm not a Conservative), but at the end of the day as D cigar says, labour could have spent our money more wisely, could have made cuts in the right places ie: reduce councillors by half, and stop spending money on yet more executives in the Council for a start, plus stop giving handouts to Salford Reds. Throughout all of these austerity measures Labour has failed to consult appropriately with its constituents, failed to be transparent, ignored and treated people with contempt when they have complained about the cuts and you think that's ok, well I don't I expect better from my Council. By the way mine's a latte. |
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Michael Felse wrote
at 22:22:09 on 15 January 2015 |
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| Clone of Stewart? How ridiculous! As the most hated by The Labour Party I remain expelled, having never been forgiven for my "serious relationship" with a Labour MPs wife in Yorkshire. I do not own a mobile caravan and my family Surname is clearly not of any Scottish origin (in fact Felse traces to 16 Century England hence I want us to see English devolution). This is not about where to cut, it is surly about who to blame as Salford faces the election season. As the most hated by Labour I must also be honest by saying I blame Tories unless they can offer us good reason for hurting people. Some Salford Tory person needs to stand up and shout to its Leaders that the North needs better attention to vulnerable people. Salford people deserve honest answers. |
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D cigar wrote
at 16:40:03 on 15 January 2015 |
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| FELSE! Once again you are missing the point. It isn't a discussion about who is responsible for the cuts ie Tories. It is a discussion as to whether the Mayor and his 13 salaried assistants are making the right cuts and spending our money wisely.
In times of austerity to put money into the trouser pocket of a failing Salford Reds for example could be viewed as no spending wisely. To recruit a highly paid City Director when the Council is top heavy with management and consultancy is again not spending money wisely,
You ar such a clone of Ian Stewart FELSE that your comments have become irritating! |
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Salford Lad wrote
at 16:40:00 on 15 January 2015 |
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| Rotten City Resident, I think your political research might be somewhat limited, have you looked at Green Party, Reality Party & TUSC policy at all ? Can you explain to us all here why you think UKIP is the answer ? Because if you think that UKIP is the answer then I think you are asking the wrong questions ? |
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Bernard Brough wrote
at 10:58:20 on 15 January 2015 |
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| Mr Resident, UKIP will make Margaret Thatcher look like Mother Teresa. |
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Michael Felse wrote
at 10:58:16 on 15 January 2015 |
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| Labour cannot be blamed for these cuts. Let us please put the blame at the door of the Tories. Will Tories on Salford Council please explain in simple words why they are not demanding their Con-Lib leaders to stop causing sever hardship to vulnerable people's lives? |
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Salford Lad wrote
at 06:02:29 on 15 January 2015 |
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| Austerity makes no sense whatsoever, how can you have more billionaires and millionaires than ever in this country, and huge amounts of money for "prestige/vanity projects" and the so-called "Northern Powerhouse", yet cut vital services for the poorest in such a disgusting and hypocritical way, all ConDem/Labour/UKIP politicians seem to all like living on Inequality Street! Respect to all who are genuinely fighting the cuts, we shall win the economic argument on this, that austerity is completely ideological and has nothing to do with economic common sense, all who implement and support cuts are soon to be shown up as the political throwbacks that they are! The times they are a changin' |
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Rotten City Resident wrote
at 06:02:24 on 15 January 2015 |
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| I noticed Karen Garrido is still sitting quietly, how can the Cons in Salford expect us to vote for them if they do not provide any opposition or alternative? Yes we as a country need to reduce costs but this council is cutting frontline services just to blame it all on the government and thus get more votes for Labour come May. The only party that understands about reducing public expenditure in a fair way seems to be UKIP, never thought I would consider voting for them but they seem the only alternative in Salford. |
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D cigar wrote
at 06:02:17 on 15 January 2015 |
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| Seemingly the only secure job in Salford Council at the moment is the 150k per year job of the City Director Slimey Jim Taylor! |
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paul quinn wrote
at 06:02:03 on 15 January 2015 |
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| No decisions have been made yet – comments will be gathered together after the 4 January 2015.
Give us your views by completing our online questionnaire (by 4 January) atwww.salford.gov.uk/talkbudget
Paper copies are available at Gateway centres and Broughton Hub. How many times have we had to listen to the lies of the mayor and Salford Council, they say they want to listen to the views of the people of Salford when it’s a foregone conclusion what they are going to do it any way, request a ‘Talk Budget Discussion Pack’ what for another waste of money. Posted some of this before but thought it needed a rerun because of all the rubbish that the mayor and his many minions are throwing at us. Just been looking at Salford City Council wants to have a conversation with citizens, staff, businesses and partners about what council services will look like in the future and how we will they meet the continuing financial challenges ahead – with less money to fund services. What for they have all ready made there decision where to make the cuts Adult and children’s services, Bin and Rubbish collections, just to name a few, so for the Salford Mayor and council to ask the people of Salford to do the cuts for them seems a bit silly to say the least, they ask how will they meet the continuing financial challenges ahead – with less money to fund services. We want to hear views on how we can make savings, provide services in a different way and gather ideas. That’s easy get rid of the Mayor, thirteen assistant mayors and cut the councillors expenses, and why as the Mayor employed anew Managing Director #150’000 a year when he is getting rid of staff at the civic centre ;; Paul Quinn T U S C
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Sir Ian Stewart wrote
at 05:59:50 on 15 January 2015 |
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| To all the people out there slating me and my socialist Labour Party feck off I don't give a damn, next year I retire to a well earned rest having dedicated my political life to me and boy do I deserve it after listening to people intellectually below me moaning about their mundane lives. I plan to spend the rest of my tenure in office of mayor of living it up and downing large quantities of champaign with my socialist labour councillor friends . So if any of you salfordians have any problems what so ever, don't come bleating to me because I will be to busy selling what's left of salford council to my wealthy friends ie peel and salford reds. ----- all my love. Sir Ian Stewart. |
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Down but not out wrote
at 17:12:05 on 14 January 2015 |
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| So does this mean that the council has already made decisions on where the cuts will be when many in the community know nothing of the talk budget papers. All i can say again is no proper consultation, no transparency , no idea !!! This form was not available to service users with disabilities and others who need communication support so all it has been is tokenistic as usual!! |
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noreen wrote
at 14:32:07 on 14 January 2015 |
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| has this Mayor not learned a lesson with what he did last year ,please please help us to protest and let this government and the biggest culprit for Salford Ian Stewart to know we have had enough I might be getting on in years but I will not bow down and let our labour council take ever last morsal this city and its people have worked for so please join us at our new Goup S.E.A.R.C.H. and lets try and protect what we have left xxx |
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Joseph O'Neill wrote
at 14:31:59 on 14 January 2015 |
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| I would ask one question when the budget is proposed what are the opposition within Salford Council going to counter with? more cuts. The reality is there is no one strong enough within Labour to speak out when you vote for sheep you more than Likely find out that is what you get. What of the Tories who sit on the council will they oppose their political masters? no of course not, but what of the alternatives would it be hard to offer a budget in response something tangible we can all sit here and offer views on the present poorly run system under Stewart but I would hate to be accused of shouting from the side and nothing to offer in replacement to their austerity, the sad part is those who even reach the panicle of siting on the council have no rights to question the city treasurer unless they are part of a party and hold the rank of spokesman, what of the unions surely they have the power and the ability to offer a credible alternative? until the opposition takes root within this city and apathy is wiped out we will each year face the same and sadly only those without voice will suffer the aged the sick the children and those so far past care. Labour will not fight when their member take cash for having the title of International relations deputy Mayor we have little hope |
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