£20m extra for Staffordshire vulnerable
A council finance boss has revealed providing support for vulnerable people is one of the biggest challenges it is facing after announcing an extra £20million will be spent in that area.
Staffordshire County Council's cabinet approved its five-year budget at a meeting on Wednesday.
Under the plans, the council has a total of £483m to spend in 2015/16. An extra £20m will be spent on caring for adults and children.
Councillor Ian Parry, who is also deputy leader of the council, said: "Providing support for the frail, the elderly, the disabled and for children in care is the biggest financial challenge facing not just this county, but the country.
"In laying out our proposals for the next five years we have set aside an extra £20 million in the first year alone to spend on care and remain absolutely committed to delivering a good and fair budget which helps support everyone in Staffordshire lead as rewarding, healthy and independent lives as possible."
Bosses have agreed to make savings of £229m from certain areas over the next five years but the equivalent amount plus an extra £60m will be pumped into other services.
Increasing costs in care will be met through a range of savings identified across the council.
Examples of how the cash will be spent on care include an extra £1.2m on looking after children in care, £3.9m for supported living and residential care for people with disabilities and £2m on adult social care.
When the budget was announced last year, bosses said funding would be slashed for school crossing patrols.
As a result, 329 school crossing patrols across the county were under threat in a bid to save £250,000 but now bosses have decided to axe the plans after feedback from parents and schools.
However, the number of roads that are gritted may be reduced to save £400,000.
Disabled drivers will also face paying for blue parking badges.
Meanwhile, car parking charges will be introduced in country parks for the first time to generate £20,000.
The council is also planning to cut £1.3m over three years from its libraries budget by allowing volunteers to take on 24 of the 43 sites it currently operates.
Chiefs say none will close.
Councillors from the opposing Labour party on the county council say it is a shame some areas will see funding cuts.
Burntwood North county councillor Sue Woodward has said she is devastated that a children's centre in her ward will close and that the running of another will be taken over by a primary school.
Under current plans, Boney Hay Children's Centre in Burntwood will close and Springhill Primary School will take over the running of Springhill Children's Centre.
"Given both the levels of disadvantage in the town, particularly in the wards of Boney Hay and Chasetown, and high levels of family breakdown, the centres have proven their worth in supporting children, families and professionals and I feel that it is unacceptable that one should close," she said.
