Walsall Council met last night (Mon 09 Jan 2017) in full session and as you would expect at this time of year a number of petitions were received concerned about a number of the proposed budget cuts being considered  by the Labour/Liberal Democrat administration ahead of the special budget meeting on the 23 February.

Two of the petitions had been submitted early enough before the council meeting and had reached the required 1,500 signatures to trigger a debate. There was one on save Streetly library, the other was against the proposal to stop funding bowling greens and cricket pitches. Have to say I was impressed by the presenters of both the petitions who put forward their cases well and proposed alternative ideas as to how they felt the budget reduction in each case could possibly be met.

The whole point of the consultation leading up to the special budget meeting of the full council in February is to allow conversations such as these to take place. I do get disappointed by some opposition councillors who forget that we are all responsible for producing a balanced budget and, unlike the two members of the public, speak against the proposed reduction in spending without coming forward with alternatives.

It was because of this flagrant “playing to the gallery” that I felt the need to set the record straight. I began by thanking the two speakers for their input into the debate and pointed out that none of us as elected members came into local politics to cut services. I went on to say:

“Each and everyone one of us as elected members have a responsibility to come forward with proposals which will produce a legal, balanced budget. A budget which has to reflect the fact that we will have £86 million less to spend over the next four years’ thanks in total to cut backs in the support we get from Government Grants.

“Responsibility for producing a balanced budget does not just rest with Cabinet members. Any alternative proposals need to be consulted on and time for doing that is running out. The Special Budget meeting of Council is just weeks away on 23 February.

“In the meantime, Cabinet members, will continue to listen to and consider any alternatives which do come forward. We are always seeking to find ways of reducing the disproportionate knock on effects the national crisis in health and social care national crisis are having on other services such as the ones before us tonight.

“No decisions have been made yet. Indeed further talks will be taking place tomorrow (Tuesday 10 Jan 2017) on that very subject and I am sure that the words of the petitioners will be born in mind as those of us on the Cabinet continue to try to reach an acceptable conclusion.”

At the end of the debate the Council voted to consider the petition and the debate feedback in its deliberations on the budget.