Neighbourhood wardens cull in Wolverhampton City Council cuts

Wolverhampton City Council is proposing to cut the number of neighbourhood wardens from 30 to 15 by April 2014, as it looks to save £98 million over five years.

If approved, the wardens – whose roles are similar to those of PCSOs – would be focussed on only six priority areas.

Tettenhall, Penn and Merry Hill, and the entire south-east constituency, would be left without any dedicated wardens.

Councillor Andrew Wynne, who represents the Tettenhall Wightwick ward, which would be left out under the proposals, branded the idea a 'shambles'.

He added: "As the vice chair of the Vibrant, Safe and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, the concentration of community policing into such small geographic areas cannot be right.

"Neighbourhood wardens are a central part of community safety. Clearly cuts have to be made but these proposals have been formulated without any consultation with the local councillors.

"The suggested allocation would leave the whole of Tettenhall, Penn and Merry Hill, and the entire south-east constituency, without any dedicated wardens.

"The suggested focus on six core areas ignores the fact that crime is mobile, and if implemented these suggestions would simply displace criminal activity and anti-social behaviour."

Currently, each of the city's 15 local neighbourhood partnership areas has two dedicated wardens, who are tasked with providing public reassurance and dealing with issues of community safety and environmental crime.

Under the proposals, Whitmore Reans, All Saints and Blakenhall, Low Hill and the Scotlands, Heath Town and Park Village, and Pennfields would each retain two wardens.

The remaining three would be asked to tackle specific issues as they arise outside of the six priority areas.

Councillor Wynne said: "The suggested formula for allocating 12 remaining community wardens are a shambles."

The council says it could save £340,000 by scrapping the positions.

In a document outlining the proposals, the authority admits 'the resolution of crime and community safety issues and public reassurance will be significantly reduced'.

Councillor Elias Mattu, cabinet member for communities, said: "Nobody wants to be doing this, but unprecedented cuts by central government are forcing the council to take difficult decisions to address a budget shortfall of £98 million.

"The proposal to reduce the neighbourhood wardens would focus resources on the areas of most need. However, no decisions have been taken and people are able to have their say in the consultation we are currently undertaking."

The consultation document is available online, at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/facingreality