County Councillor calls on the Government to intervene in Council Cuts

“These cuts will have dire consequences for our communities”

County Councillor Julie Gibson, the Labour Group Shadow Spokesperson for Economic Regeneration has reacted with dismay to the news that Lancashire County Council is set to make £84million pounds worth of cuts. The package agreed at the Cabinet Meeting last Thursday will see cuts to gritting, maintenance and vital services that protect many vulnerable adults and children across Lancashire.

Cllr Gibson said: “This isn’t about cuts it’s about the destruction of much valued services within our local communities. In many cases these services not only serve but protect and save people’s lives. We in Lancashire like so many other communities have tolerated austerity, pandemics and we are now being asked to suffer the consequences of conservative financial mismanagement. The constant dithering and delays within what many describe as a zombie government mean that many vulnerable people will bear the brunt of this budget. We only have to look at one statement regarding the reduction in gritting which states this will result in an increase in collisions.”

Cllr Gibson said: “Labour would do things differently. We have been saying for some time that we should stop all the tax loopholes, introduce a windfall tax, and look to develop services like the UK energy company. We at Lancashire Labour are now looking in details across all services on income generation and creation. This will include going back to government and fighting and joining with other Council’s to clearly make the case that local government shouldn’t carry the burden of failed Tory economic policies.

And what is the answer for the Conservative Cabinet at County Hall. They are going on a “jolly” to Westminster to celebrate “Lancashire day” at the expense of local people. What they should be doing is joining with us and organisations such as the County Cllrs Network to lobby Government to say enough is enough. Councils cannot keep taking the blame for the last 12 years of Conservative economic failure. Government needs to act, and the Conservatives at Lancashire County Council need to be leading on it.”