There's no doubt that Salford City Council's community budget consultation was pathetic – drawing just 225 replies from over 100,000 households. Its questionnaires at libraries, public buildings and Gateway Centres drew just twelve responses, while a meagre 62 questionnaires were returned from a spread in Life In Salford magazine (`it was probably in the bin before anyone got to the page' ed). The rest of the surveys were filled in online…
…Even so, what was absolutely crystal clear from the consultation was that Salford people did not want cuts to services for our young and elderly citizens. Adult Social Care and Children's Services were found to be the least acceptable for a cut in funding `in this current climate' and the most popular to retain funding…with the vast majority of the survey agreeing: "Do Not Cut: It is very important that this service remains as it is now".
Indeed, the questionnaires showed that people "would rather pay more to maintain this service at its current level" above any other service in Salford. By 2014 Adult Social Care and the Children's Service will suffer some of the biggest cuts in Salford Council's spending. So much for consultations. Even rubbish ones.
By 2014, Adult Social Care will have suffered a cut of over £10.5million with the loss of 105 jobs. Salford has already announced a cut of £3.8million for 2011-12 but further cuts of almost £7million will see care for our sick, unfortunate and elderly shredded.
The 2011-12 Adult Social Care budget will already result in the axe for six social workers, 100 residential care places and twelve intensive homecare support workers, plus hundreds of thousand of pounds wiped off services helping elderly people or those with mental health problems, learning difficulties and disabilities (see here).
From 2012-14, huge cuts will include a `reconfiguration' of day care services (£876,000), a `redesign' of Adult Social Care Commissioning (£3million), a `redesign' of mental health supported accommodation (£150,000) and a `reconfiguration' of short breaks (£649,000 plus twenty jobs). A further £120,000 will be cut by getting people out of residential care homes and into their own accommodation, relying on Telecare and Telehealth technology to take over from trained staff.
What did the community questionnaires say again? "Do Not Cut: It is very important that this service remains as it is now".
Meanwhile, by 2014, Salford might not have an official Youth Service at all if it can't survive a massive cut of £3.344million and the loss of 42 jobs as part of a "service reduction" which will lead to a `New Integrated Youth Service'.
What did the community questionnaires say again? "Do Not Cut: It is very important that this service remains as it is now".
Salford Council's Savings document reveals a further £20million of cuts overall by 2014 which will lead to 802 total estimated job losses.
Scheduled for huge savings is also Customer and Support Services which will get a further £4million cut from 2012-13 on top of £3.8million next year. By 2014 a total of 180 jobs will have been lost in this department. Culture, Sport and Leisure will see almost another £1million wiped from its budget, on top of a cut of £800,000 next year.
The Savings document also reveals that the new `flagship' Gateway centres will not only have their opening hours reduced but also a further £150,000 cut which will reduce `face-to-face contact and resources'. Grants to the voluntary sector organisations will have another cut of almost £100,000 by 2014 - and Salford's crucial Debt and Welfare Rights service - which should deal with the ConDem Government's poverty fall out - will see nine jobs disappear, along with a total cut of £215,000.
Altogether, by 2014, Salford will see a £20million `reduction in service', on top of other efficiencies – a total of around £60million worth of cuts.
And it looks like the hardest hit services will be Children's and Adult Social Care. What did the community consultation say again? "Do Not Cut: It is very important that this service remains as it is now".
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