Wirral Council unions fear frontline services “will be annihilated” by cuts proposals

Nov 10 2012 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Echo

FRONTLINE services “will be annihilated” unions said today as they came to terms with sweeping cuts proposed by Wirral council.

Staff and unions were left shocked at the extent of the proposed cuts as the authority attempts to find £39m worth of savings and balance the budget for next year.

Joe Taylor of Unison said staff – who were briefed on the proposals yesterday morning – had been left devastated.

He said: “They are really shocked at the extent of the proposed cuts. The chief executive says they are trying to protect frontline services, but from the options we’ve been shown many of them look in danger.”

As well as hundreds of staff being made redundant or facing poorer working conditions, the proposals include:

Two out of three respite homes facing closure

Day care centres going to save £2m

Charges for social care such as meals on wheels going up

Car parking charges increasing everywhere to the level paid in Birkenhead

Bringing in charges for garden waste collection

Ending the apprenticeships programme.

Ending the sponsorship of Tranmere Rovers to save £135,000

Cutting back on street cleaning, street lighting and highways maintenance

Leaving parks and opens spaces including beaches without maintenance unless by friends groups.