Youth clubs could 'disappear' in Staffordshire cuts

Thirty-four clubs across Staffordshire face the axe as the cash-strapped county council aims to make £102 million worth of savings over the next five years.

But the plans, due to be approved by cabinet on Wednesday have caused outrage across the county with more than 16,000 people signing a petition opposing the move.

Campaigners protested with banners and placards outside the County Buildings in Stafford yesterday before the full council meeting and they packed into the public gallery to hear the debate unfold.

Councillor George Adamson, who represents Hednesford and Rawnsley, said he was worried about the council's stance on getting voluntary groups, schools and other organisations to run youth clubs in future.

He said: "Volunteers come and go. Voluntary groups will do this for a while then stop doing it. We can't just rely on volunteers. The clubs will be maintained for a year or so and then tail off."

Leek South Councillor Charlotte Atkins said youth clubs offer so much more than just ping pong on a week night.

She said: "It's about developing youngsters and giving them advice and guidance. A lot of these young people may not have had the best start to life. Youth clubs are so much more than playing ping pong on a week night. To rip the heart out of youth services is just not right."

Tamworth Amington Councillor Sheree Peaple argued youth services provide a huge amount to the young people of Staffordshire and pleaded with the Tory-led council not to presume the voluntary sector will 'mop up' the service when changes are made.

But cabinet support member for community safety, Councillor Mark Sutton, defended the proposed cuts.

He said: "We need a new approach in these changing times. It's not acceptable for taxpayers to spend on services that do not provide value for money." He argued three quarters of young people living in Staffordshire do not currently use youth clubs. And Stafford South East Councillor John Francis added: "This will be done properly. We want the best for all our young people."

A group of teenagers who regularly use youth clubs across the county attended the meeting.

They are among the 16,318 who have signed the petition.

Seventeen-year-old Danny Hipkiss said: "I have used youth clubs in Lichfield for the past four years. They have played an important part in my development.

"Cutting youth provision will see an increase of young people in on the streets. And there will be an increase in anti social behaviour. Youth services have changed my life."

The South Staffordshire College student added: "They say they want the best for young people but they don't seem to be listening to what we are saying."

Recommendations are in place to shut 34 clubs in areas including Lichfield, Cannock, Brewood, Stafford, Stone, Gnosall, and Wombourne.

Around 114 members of staff work in youth centres across the area. Council bosses have not said how many, if any, will lose their jobs.

There are no immediate plans to sell off the buildings the clubs are based in, but bosses say they will assess the potential future usage of the buildings.

During the meeting, councillors also agreed that while nine day care service centres for adults with disabilities are closed, moved or downsized to save even more cash, six monthly reports will be submitted to the Safe and Strong Communities Select Committee.

Centres affected include ones in Cannock, Lichfield, Stafford, Kidsgrove, Newcastle, Burton and Tamworth and Codsall.

A total of 4,169 people signed a petition opposed to the plans. Councillor Atkins told the committee: "We must ensure we monitor the quality of service we deliver."

And they also moved proposals to increase allowances by one per cent.

An independent panel had recommended that county councillors' allowances go up by £29 from £8,933 to £9,022. There have been no increases since 2009.