Council warns of £10.6m cuts to come
West Berkshire Mencap and seven other charities to have funding slashed
WEST Berkshire Council must make £10.6m worth of cuts next year and has already identified eight charities that are likely to lose part or all of their funding.
The council has warned that no-one is safe, saying it is “looking at all options”, including raising council tax and cutting frontline services such as children’s services and libraries.
West Berkshire Mencap, which has been rocked by the news it may lose £137,000 a year in funding from March 2016, has described it as “short-sighted, reckless and destructive decision” that could have “devastating and far reaching consequences” for hundreds of families.
It also warned it would have to close almost all of its children’s services including after school clubs, which it describes as a “lifeline” to families who have children with severe mental health issues or learning difficulties. should the cuts go ahead.
The Conservative-led council, which says it has to make the savings to combat a reduction in central government money, has also written to Home-Start West Berkshire, Dingley Family & Specialist Early Years Centres, Guideposts Trust, PALS, Kids, National Autistic Society and Crossroads Care Oxfordshire informing them of the proposals.
Council leader Gordon Lundie (Con, Lambourn Valley) said he “failed to see” how Mencap – which he described as “such a well-funded organisation with £800,000 in the bank” – would be affected by the proposals.
The full proposed savings programme for 2016/17 will be formally announced in two weeks time and comes just five months after the council voted in favour of raising councillors’ allowances by 16.5 per cent
Although Mr Lundie declined to answer specific questions about what other services would be at risk, he said that it would be looking at “libraries, children’s centres, and well-funded organisations like Mencap”.
The chief executive of West Berkshire Mencap, Leila Ferguson, said: “I cannot believe the council would even consider this.
“It makes me very sad. I’ve had parents in tears already. They feel pretty desperate as for many this is the only respite they get. It’s their lifeline.
“These children are loved and adored here. They [the council] have taken away everything we have got in one shot and without any hope for the future.”
Sally Robinson, whose daughter attends Mencap children’s services, said: “Mencap is a lifeline. My daughter is happy and well looked after there.
“She doesn’t get to play with local children, she doesn’t go to sleepovers or go to town shopping with the girls or to tea at a friend’s.
“Her social life is playing at Mencap after school club or holiday club. She looks forward to her time there and I am happy and confident leaving her there.
“This is my respite time, time for me, time for her siblings without her demands taking over.”
However, Mr Lundie said: “I really am puzzled by Mencap’s claims they will have to close children’s services as a result of the proposed cuts. This is an organisation who announced profits of £150,000 last year and have £800,000 in the bank.
“Perhaps instead of stashing money away they should look at spending more on the services they provide.”
