Open meeting to discuss council cuts this week

West Berkshire Independent Living Network is hosting meeting to quiz West Berkshire Council on Friday, January 6

IT is now just days before an open meeting to discuss West Berkshire Council's budget cuts to disabled and vulnerable people across the district is to be held.

On Friday, January 6, the West Berkshire Independent Living Network is holding the meeting at the Royal British Legion building in Pelican Lane from 1pm until 3pm.

It will be split into two sections, part one is an open floor to gather views and part two is for questions to be put to representatives of the council.

In November West Berkshire Council announced it planned to save £9 million over the next financial year with £2 million in cuts to services for vulnerable people, as well as chopping staff to save £3 million and taking £4 million across every department from roads to waste.

The West Berkshire Disability Alliance (WBDA) reacted angrily to the news and said disabled people in the region were being targeted by the authority in an effort to keep council tax low for everyone else, however the council hit back and said its finances were well maintained.

It is just one of many groups who have felt the axe heavily for a second consecutive year as the council deals with a 25 per cent cut in funding over four years from 2010.

Recently the head of West Berkshire Mencap predicted more children would end up in care if planned service cuts go ahead.

The group has been warned its annual £53,721.60 council funding for children's services could be slashed by more than half to £23,000 in 2012-13.

Tea and coffee will be available at the meeting, to attend RSVP to Sharon Jones on (01635) 760425, 07905 521452 or email.sharon@wbiln.com