Tomorrow, Salford City Council meets to rubber stamp £15.8million of cuts to services and staff.
Last week, the Salford Star reported that the joint trade unions of Salford had sent counter proposals to Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, including opposition to the closure of The Grange and £140,000 cuts to Health Improvement Services, left over from last year's budget (see previous Salford Star article – click here)
Today, the unions issued a statement explaining that the Council had not revisited any of the proposed cuts "despite us providing evidence and costings for every challenge made...
"It is regrettable that we again find ourselves in a situation, where the voice of those employed by Salford City Council has played little role in shaping the future of the Council" they add.
Specifically in relation to the closure of The Grange, the Mayor explains... "The Joint Trade Union document states that members 'do not feel it is in the interests of either the staff or service users and their families for The Grange to close.' We disagree.
"The Grange is currently a 5 bed occupancy facility with 2 active service users, both with specific disabilities which our officers believe could be more suitably catered for elsewhere" he adds "Due to the nature of the facility, despite its under-usage it must be fully-staffed at all times at significant expense to the local authority. Both the cared-for children can be relocated with suitable care arrangements, in more interactive and social environments. There are no compulsory redundancies required from the staff, who will be relocated elsewhere – whilst a £300,000 annual saving may be made on the operation of The Grange itself."
The unions respond... "The parents of the young people residing at The Grange disagree with the City Council, as do our members employed there. The two children only is a relative recent development as the level of residents fluctuate as it does at other children's homes.
"We believe that the current young people have made considerable progress while at the Grange" they add "We cannot accept they would be better off with a private provider out of borough. We also cannot accept that children with disabilities needing accommodating in the future will then be automatically placed with a private provider out of area.
"This is contrary to the policy for all other children requiring accommodating in Salford. We have consulted with our members at the Grange, Social Work Disability Team and across the Directorate and they are all opposed to the closure."
Now, the Labour Party Council, led by a City Mayor who calls himself a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, is to face protest from both trade unions and parents of disabled children...
Lobby of Salford City Council
Wednesday 22nd February 8:15am-9am
Civic Centre, Swinton
See also previous Salford Star article on the proposed closure of The Grange and interviews with parents - click here
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
