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Sometimes I despair

by Ian Shires on 1 February, 2017

walsall-council-cutsAs a part of the leadership of Walsall Council, Councillors Sean Coughlan, Lee Jeavans and myself are acutely aware of what some people think of politicians. Much of it is fuelled by national tabloid newspapers which is why we have gone to so much trouble to give as much detail as possible to the local press about the council’s first ever four-year budget.

We might just as well have not bothered. When you look at the negativity of the opening paragraph of the Express and Star the next day, sometimes I despair, “Walsall Council is to axe hundreds of jobs and nine libraries, while raising council tax by nearly five per cent” shouts the headline on the front page. There is a passing reference to the need to save £86 million by 2020 at the end of the fourth paragraph.

In preparation for the press conference the day before I’d written a few notes on what I felt I should say to the press. I felt I needed to say that they had two chances.

The first being the easy option. “A quick look through the information we have provided you with and I’m sure you’ll be able to find some emotive issues within the budget proposals which will give you an eye-catching headline to feed the negative establishment knocking.

 “Or you could take a little more time and treat your readers with the respect they deserve. Tell them why it has been necessary for councils across England to be slashing £millions off their budgets as a result of the Government austerity cuts forcing them to hike council tax by up to 5%”

In reflection, I wish I’d said it now, but against my better judgement I didn’t. Another difficult decision, one of many we have had to take in putting together a legal, four-year balanced budget.

Over the coming days I’m going to go through the journey I and my fellow Coalition Cabinet members have travelled since taking over the administration of the council following the Annual Council last May.

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