Shropshire Star

Shropshire Council cash plan to save services sparks row

Shropshire councillors have become embroiled in a row over the use of millions of pounds of reserves to prevent the closure of services.

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Shropshire Council's cabinet agreed its financial strategy for 2017/18 to 2019/20 at its meeting yesterday, which includes the use of "one-off" funding amounting to more than £38 million, with about £8 million from reserves.

Council leader Malcolm Pate said rejected accusations from opposition councillors that the strategy is a "song and a prayer", and said it is a prudent way to keep closure-threatened services running.

He said: "We have been working on this for the past 12 months and we are trying to mitigate the number of services we will no longer be able to deliver by the prudent use of reserves and capital receipts."

A number of services had been under threat, including museums, leisure facilities and public parks.

Councillor Pate admitted that there was uncertainty over future finances for the council but said he was hopeful the Government would provide more money for councils to pay for adult social care.

He said: "We are hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel with the Government proposal on funding for elderly care.

"I do not think it is right to start closing services down that might not be able to be restarted if there is a prudent way of managing that.

"I think it is sensible, prudent and right for the people of Shropshire to retain as many of the services as we can."

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of the council's opposition Labour group, said: "This is a song and a prayer, just wishful thinking. A cynic might say it is all to do with the election in May.

"You are putting off massive cuts the Government is urging until after the election in May."

He added: "The use of one-offs is enormous and cannot be repeated."

Councillor Roger Evans, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, questioned whether Councillor Pate would be "leaving a message in a drawer when he leaves next April to say, 'sorry, we spent it all'."

Councillor Pate said that he agreed with his Labour opponent that the future financial picture for the council is uncertain.

He said: "You are right, I actually agree with you.

"There is a lot of uncertainty about what might happen after 2020, but I have to say the Government is coming to realise a fair funding formula for elderly care is something they are going to have to address."

He added: "I think your references to the election are political."

Earlier this week, Shropshire Council was told it will receive £1.3 million in a bid to rid the region's roads of potholes.

The Government has revealed that safety improvements will be carried out on the A529, which runs north and south of Market Drayton, along with more money to tackle potholes across the county.

Councillor Pate said at the time: "It's all good news for us."

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