4:44pm Thursday 18th March 2010
As council tax letters start dropping through our letterboxes confirming the county council increase of 2.5%, Argus readers may be interested to know this is not all good news. Beneath the headlines of this “smallest ever” council tax increase, essential public services are under more pressure than ever before.
Cuts to the youth service budget of £2 million have been announced, which will surely mean the closure of youth centres. Cuts to library opening hours are currently being consulted on. The future of day centres for some of the most vulnerable disabled members of our community will be consulted on this summer.
We all benefit directly or indirectly from these services but they are under threat.
National research shows that, as well not wanting our local services privatised, most of us would be willing to pay slightly more council tax to preserve the essential public services.
If the average Band D taxpayer pays a few extra pence a week, it is worth millions to the authority – precious resources which could have been used to protect vital frontline services.
Chris Earwaker
Branch Secretary, UNISON West Sussex
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