Public back plan to close Walsall Museum
Most people in Walsall agree the cash-strapped council is right to axe a town centre museum to save £70,000, survey results revealed today.
Of those who responded to a consultation on proposed cuts worth £19 million, 52 per cent backed the authority's plan to shut Walsall Museum.
Raising the cost of an application fee for blue disabled badges received overwhelming support, with 80 per cent of the 1,371 people who took part in favour of the move.
Cuts to youth support services and increasing burial charges were the most unpopular proposals.
The views will now be used to help shape the budget, which will be decided in February. Council chiefs have insisted that changes could be made to the proposals in the light of the survey results.
It comes as the authority looks to shed 332 jobs across all departments.
Youth service cuts were opposed by 64 per cent of respondents, while 62 per cent were against a proposed 5.5 per cent hike in bereavement costs.
The comments are set to go before the cabinet on December 11 as the authority was today hearing more news of the Government's funding announcement in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn statement.
Overall, 79 per cent agreed with plans to stop operating the in-house print and design service to save £150,000, 74 per cent agreed with plans to review children's services to save £500,000 and 72 per cent agreed with plans to reduce grants to allotment associations by half, worth £20,000.
More than 60 per cent were in favour of plans to review school crossing wardens to claw back £85,000. Council leader Councillor Mike Bird said today: "This has been the largest budget consultation exercise in Walsall's history."
