Free transport saved in Dudley as council tax frozen

Dudley Council approved what is described as a 'very difficult budget' at a full meeting this week.

The authority will have to make savings of £22.1 million in 2015/16 rising to £24.3 million in 2016/17 and £26.3 million in £2017/18.

But officials have warned this will still leave a further gap of £32.7 million which will need to be addressed by 2017/18.

A total of 36 councillors voted in favour of the budget, with 18 abstaining and nine voting against proposals.

And while controversial plans to axe free transport for special needs children were shelved, to the delight of campaigners, other plans - including proposals to increase charges for the hire of sports pitches - were included.

Cabinet member for finance, councillor Stuart Turner said in 2010/11, the council was receiving more than £196 million of formula and mainstream grant funding, but said by next year the equivalent funding will have fallen below £130 million.

The meeting was told the authority is still on track to deliver £1 million savings due to ongoing management restructure although some said the actual savings would be far less when costs are taken into account.

Cabinet member for finance Councillor Stuart Turner said it would not be a one-off saving but would be ongoing year on year.

"Yes there will be costs but they will be one-off payments which have been accounted for," he said.

Conservative group leader Councillor Patrick Harley said the council could no longer rely on government grants and had to look at ways of raising money through its own initiative.

He suggested commercialisation of some council services - such as construction or environment projects.

"The council needs to show real ambition and leadership and that is lacking in this budget," he said.

UKIP councillor Paul Brothwood put forward a raft of amendments to the budget, including a 20 per cent reduction of basic allowance for all members and the axing of the post of chief executive.

They also included free off-street parking be introduced on Saturdays and Sundays. But the amendments were rejected by the chamber when councillors voted on them.

Conservative councillor Natalie Neale said she was concerned a 40 per cent hike in pitch fees would have a 'devastating' affect on the battle against obesity in Dudley.

But health boss councillor Rachel Harris said the authority was trying to get the 'best bang for its buck.'

At the end of the meeting, Councillor Turner admitted it had been a 'very difficult budget'.

"At the end we have been able to deliver the lowest council tax in the Black Country and one of the lowest in the West Midlands," he said.

The move means the council's charge for a band D property will remain at £1,125 a year.

But charges from the Fire Authority and Police and Crime Commissioner are set to rise by almost two per cent, meaning the total outlay for band D property will climb slightly to £1,286 a year.

Speaking after the meeting, parents and care staff spoke of their relief the plans to axe free transport for children to specialist nurseries had been shelved.

The move followed consultations with parents and the tabling of an amendment by the borough's Conservative group.

The controlling Labour group accepted the amendment and it was passed by councillors.

A review looking at how pre-school services are delivered in the borough will now take place.

Parents attending the full council meeting cheered as they heard the amendment had been supported.

Parent Hayley Welbourne, of Halesowen, who has two youngsters with autism, said: "This is wonderful news and will be a relief for all the parents affected by this.

"Everyone has grouped together to fight this plan and have worked extremely hard raising awareness of what was happening.

"This is a vital service. All of us would like to be able to walk our children to school as other parents do but that is just not possible.

"I want to thank everyone who has supported us."

Fellow campaigner Rachel Gardener, from the We Love Carers group, said: "This shows that councillors have listened to parents.

"It is just a shame it came this far - all the way to the meeting itself. It has caused a lot of stress for families."

Jayne Sinden, a teacher with Dudley Specialist Early Years Service, added: "At least the service will now continue into the future.

"People have been very supportive and we would like to thank them."

Cabinet member for children's services on the council, Councillor Tim Crumpton said : "We have made it clear from the outset that no child would be denied access to these nurseries because of money and that we would continue to provide support where needed.

"We know we need to look at the service in a wider context and this may involved re-modelling it to ensure everyone has access to these much valued services.

"This doesn't take away the fact that due to the continued cuts to our funding we will need to make savings but by reviewing all aspects of the service we will be exploring to see how this can be achieved."

The council is not legally required to provide the transport.