Cuts 'unfair on Rotherham,' says Roger Stone

The Labour Group leader told a packed Council Chamber that the need to make savings in the face of Government cuts was “far worse than we could have ever imagined.”

Cllr Stone defended the authority’s budget for 2011/12, which was passed at Wednesday’s full council meeting and criticised the Government for being unfair to Rotherham.

“This Government has stressed its principle of fairness,” he said.

“Little did I think that a fair financial settlement would see Rotherham, one of the most needy towns in the country, treated more harshly than some of our more affluent, leafy neighbours in the South of England. 

“But that is exactly what has happened and it gives a whole new meaning to the word fair. 

“Fair on the people of Rotherham that we in this Chamber represent? I think not.”

Tory councillor Tony Mannion hit back, saying it was Labour’s 13 years of overspending that had resulted in authorities having to tighten their belts.

When asked by Labour rivals why the opposition had no alternative budget, Cllr Mannion said that they were not allowed council officers’ time or the opportunity to see the figures and put forward suggestions.

The major savings this year include cutting £517,000 from the school effectiveness service, axing £400,000 from youth services and slashing library budgets by £240,000.

Cllr Stone attacked what he called the coalition Government’s “horrendous financial strategy,” but maintained that services for Rotherham’s most vulnerable people would be protected.

He said it would have been easy to make “knee-jerk decisions,” but instead decided to look at the protection of services in the long term.

More than 300 staff have already taken voluntary redundancy, which Cllr Stone said would have an impact, but he maintained that protecting front line services was essential.

One of the services mentioned for safeguarding was for children and young people’s services which will see funding of £41 million.

Cllr Stone added: “I believe that with the funds available we have a good financial plan for the people of Rotherham.

“Unfortunately, the public must realise that some things will not be the same. 

“Some tough choices and some very difficult decisions have had to be made and I am under no illusion that some people will be upset at some of the changes.”