Services must be protected in cuts

Despite all our best efforts it will have to consider cutting back some important services. So why are we in this situation? We are constantly being told by representatives of the current government that cuts are necessary because of the terrible “mess” left by the last government.

A more realistic assessment would trace the roots of the current crisis back to the recent near collapse of the banking system. Banks have been bailed out to the tune of billions of pounds in order to stabilise the economy and the money has to come from somewhere.

The banking crisis has created massive deficits for governments and Institutions throughout the Western World and left many countries including this one, with a fragile economy.

It is irresponsible and dishonest of Government and Cllr Gilding to use the present economic crisis to justify further attacks on the very infraServuicstructure of our society. In addition to inevitable job losses at all levels, the Council will have to reconsider the whole scope and management of service provision.

I trust that we have given the firmest assurance that we will look to alternatives before making cuts in service provision.

Of course we have been here before (or somewhere like it). Some of us will remember the Thatcher government’s determination to sell off wholesale, public assets to the private sector.

The consequences of that brought misery to millions – ask those who suffered from the privatisation of the care industry before proper regulation and standards were introduced. Rotherham Borough Council prides itself on the quality and value of its public services- we recently received a prestigious national award for its Adult Care provision.

Whilst ensuring good value for the council tax payers we will resist by all available means pressure from Central government to sacrifice those services which we have had to fight so long and hard to establish.

Jo Burton, Cllr Anston/Woodsetts (Labour).