Wirral Council launches massive consultation over cuts, slammed by Labour as “public choosing method of their own destruction”

Jul 28 2010 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

A MASSIVE consultation exercise over council cuts launched by the ConLib coalition was slammed by Labour.

The new administration is inviting residents, staff, stakeholders, businesses and community groups to make their priorities clear, as leaders brace themselves for swingeing budget reductions.

But Labour leader Cllr Steve Foulkes dismissed the idea as an exercise in whether taxpayers wish to be “hung, shot or guillotined”.

Under the title WIRRAL’S FUTURE. Be a part of it, “independent working groups” will filter budget restrictions and service demands into “options for residents to consider”.

Four areas, children and young people, adult social services, living in Wirral and economy and regeneration, will be focused on and the options presented to residents for discussion over a six week period, from September 13.

Feedback will then be fed back to the task groups, who will “finalise their options papers” over four weeks, before they are presented in a report to cabinet on November 25.

Wirral Council leader, Cllr Jeff Green said: “Wirral Council is facing the same budgetary challenges as all other local authorities across the country and we must adapt.

“We want council taxpayers to be a part of this process by having a genuine say on how their money is spent so that we can make sure that council services reflect their priorities.