Walsall Council leader: Services will 'fall by the wayside' because of 'disastrous' cuts
Walsall Council's leader has warned that services are going to 'fall by the wayside' because of the 'disastrous effect' of government cuts, as uncertainty continues to mar the borough's finances.
Councillor Mike Bird said the council delivers 'approximately 1,360 different services every day' but that some of these would have to 'fall by the wayside' due to the financial pressure the council is under.
Councillor Bird added that this would be the case under any administration, not just his Conservative one.
Despite council tax rising by 3.99 per cent this forthcoming financial year, as well as a host of financial cuts including to adult and social care, the council still needs to find a further £29 million or so in savings.
Councillor Bird is previously on record as saying that the following year council tax may have to be put up as much as 10 per cent.
Speaking to the Express & Star about potential cuts to services and the borough's current state, he said: "Over the 36 years I have been in local politics I have always been honest.
"Whether people like it or not, I am trying to get the message through to the electorate and to central government about the disastrous effect on our communities.
"This is especially the case for those on lower pay or those on benefits.
"We deliver approximately 1,360 different services every day and I am sorry but some of those will fall by the wayside regardless of whoever's in charge of the council."
When asked about what services could be cut, Councillor Bird said it was 'too early to say'.
But the council is not completely defeated, as this week it will discuss its economic growth programme, a plan in the next five years to secure thousands of jobs for the borough as well as hundreds of millions of pounds in funding.
Councillor Bird explained: "The economic growth programme is about getting business to invest in the borough.
"It is clear we aren't going to get any extra funds from central government so we need to find our own ways of creating funds."
Councillor Bird's Conservative administration has a clear idea about how to shape the council's future, with further cuts and a council tax hike.
If they are re-elected come the next local elections in May, they will be able to implement their original budget, regardless of the amendments that were passed at the council's annual budget meeting last month which saw a u-turn on potential library closures.
Councillor Bird said: "We are confident we will remain in power.
"We are targeting certain areas and we are confident that we will be seeing an increase in our numbers."
