Council scraps more than £110k cuts ahead of budget-setting meeting

Rochdale Council has scrapped more than £190k of cuts ahead of its budget-setting meeting this week.

Plans that would have seen town centre wardens and a ‘critical’ community liaison post come under the axe have been dropped by the council cabinet.

It comes after a public consultation revealed overwhelming opposition to the plans, while the council’s own scrutiny committee also called for them to be dropped.
 

Read more: Fears community relations in Rochdale could be hit if ‘absolutely critical’ liaison post is cutPublished: 14 January 2021

A proposal to reduce financial support to Shopmobility, that did not form part of the consultation, has also been dropped at councillors’ behest.

However, the cabinet will still be pursuing controversial proposals to bring in new adult social care charges.
 

Read more: Disability charity warns proposed adult care charges would come as blow to those hit hardest by pandemicPublished: 12 January 2021

The decision was taken at a recent council cabinet meeting.

Council leader Allen Brett said they had taken on board the views of all those who responded to the consultation.

He told the meeting: “I think what it shows is that we listen.

“And when people tell us various things, if we can do something about it, we do.”

The potential savings will now be covered by money that was due to be transferred into reserves, leading Councillor Brett to warn that similar proposals could re-emerge in future.

“What you are saying is it will solve the problem this year but we will have to look at it again in 12 months,” he said, after chief finance officer Julie Murphy clarified the situation.

 

 

However, Councillor Janet Emsley said it would have been a ‘false economy’ to axe the community liaison role – which groups such as Rochdale Multi-Faith Partnership say is essential.

As well as providing the link between community centres and the council, it has also been instrumental in putting on borough events, including Holocaust Memorial Day, Black History Month and St George’s Day.

Councillor Emsley said: “It’s been proven during the pandemic – which highlighted various inequalities – that the integration and cohesion we have in Rochdale borough is really, really important.

“This post is integral to that cohesion and integration. The trust and partnership and cooperation we have is nonsense without this post.

“It provides support for safer communities for our residents and I believe it would be a false economy to take it out.”

Councillor Emsley added that town centre wardens carried out a vital enforcement role alongside businesses, town centre management and the police.

“I’m sure we can make it an even more effective service with these three posts, “she said.

She added that while the town centre wardens were focused on Rochdale – where a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is in force, they could also be deployed elsewhere when necessary.

“The introduction of wardens meant we have reduced crime and anti-social behaviour,” said Councillor Emsley.

“There are 696 incidents they have been involved in directly – as well as all the underlying stuff they have been doing.”

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for a thriving economy, said the council should wait to see what effect the pandemic has on the town centre before considering cuts to the service.

He said: “Before we cut these posts we need to see what the impact is and how the town centre is being used.

“We may want to come back in 12 months, but I think it’s premature to pull it now.”

Councillor Blundell also spoke on the Shopmobility funding.

He said: “Members have made it quite clear they want to continue funding the service. In normal times, it’s well used and it’s a good service.”

However, he confirmed he would be talking to Shopmobility about finding other sources of funding in future.

The results of the consultation showed that 74% of respondents disagreed with new adult social care charges, while 76% were against axing the town centre enforcement wardens.

And 82% opposed cutting the neighbourhood cohesion and community centre engagement post.

Rochdale council’s cabinet met on Thursday night (25 February).

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter

02/03/21 - This article was amended because it originally stated that plans to bring in adult adult social care charges had been dropped.