Lib Dems claim they can protect council services

West Berkshire's Liberal Democrats want to halt day centre closures and keep youth clubs open

WEST Berkshire's Liberal Democrat party has claimed it can halt the closure of day centres for vulnerable people and keep youth clubs open under proposals put forward in it's alternative budget.

As West Berkshire Council's Conservative administration prepares to push through its 2011-12 budget at a full council meeting tomorrow (Thursday), the Liberal Democrats believe they can find the money to stop the closures of Hillcroft House in Thatcham, Downlands Day Centre, in Compton, Windmill Court Day Centre, in Mortimer, Shaw Day Centre, in Newbury, and the Ormonde Centre in Newbury, until alternative provision is made.

The party has also said it wishes to stop the closure of Riverside and John O'Gaunt youth centres, Kintbury Youth Club, Theale Junior Youth club, John O'Gaunt Youth Club, John O'Gaunt lunch club, and Waterside junior club under 13s.

Leader of the opposition, Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West), said his party would plough more money into youth services, as axing the clubs and cutting off valuable outlets for young people was “totally counter-productive”.

The decision to close the youth clubs has sparked outrage across the district this week as the full impact of the council's cuts package starts to sink in.

“We are opposed to day centre closures but we can't debate them in the council chamber for six months from September due to council constitution,” he said.

“If we are elected in May we will keep them open, and we will also stop the youth club closures.

“We want to put the money back into young people's services, we don't think the Conservatives are doing enough for young people, and we think they are rushing many of their decisions without proper attention.”

The party believe a significant increase in “efficiency savings” in each directorate could be increased which would lessen the need for job losses.

This would involve cutting out unnecessary spending such as that on conferences or events held at external venues.

Money would also come from cutting down on car park cleaning, increasing the price of long-term parking season tickets and increasing a number of library charges, including internet access for anyone wishing to use it for longer than 30 minutes.

The party believes it has identified savings of £891,000.

The leader of West Berkshire Council, Graham Jones (Con, Lambourn), said the Liberal Democrats were “playing Russian Roulette with people's services.”

“From an independent audit, West Berkshire Council performs very well regarding value for money and we already have ambitious savings targets in for efficiency,” he said.

“Their proposal to increase this further is hot air which would put services such as child protection, libraries, countryside and adult social care at risk.

He criticised the proposal to raise long-term car parking fees.

“Do they really think town centre workers will pay £2 per hour? They will be driven out of Newbury centre and into all the surrounding areas.

“Their proposals affect about half a percent of the budget and fail to embrace the very difficult challenges that lie ahead. They are stuck in a Brownite bureaucratic approach to running council services.”