Have your say on latest budget cuts
The latest consultation on the current round of proposed budget cuts by RCT Council comes to an end on the 18Th January. Residents are invited to give their views on further proposed cuts to the library Service, the youth engagement & participation service and to certain bus routes.
The library service has already suffered severe cuts with many closing completely. The new proposals include cutting the amount spent on books, reducing opening hours and having some single person operated libraries.
Youth services are also set to suffer again with a further reduction in staff and service provision across the County.
Most bus services are operated on a commercial basis. However some routes which are not commercially viable receive financial support from the Council. There is no statutory obligation on the Council to do this. Three services face the axe resulting in a saving of £50,000. These are 138 Porth – Trehafod (Woodfield Terrace); 153 Tonypandy – Gilfach Goch; 25 Fernhill – Cefnpennar – Ynysybwl – Pontypridd.
Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Powell says he sympathises with the need to make tough decisions because of necessary cutbacks in overall expenditure but it must be a careful balancing act between the best use of public money and maintaining valued services.
"We agreed overall with the necessity of cutting library services across RCT in a previous round of budget changes. Whilst it is essential that adequate library facilities are maintained then it is irresponsible to keep pouring money into a service that is not used.
"However, some of the current proposed cuts are a step too far. Single staffed libraries for example would pose security risks and the panic buttons that the Council say they will install do not address this problem adequately.
"Youth services have surely seen more than their share of cuts in recent times. It is one of the main complaints that residents come up with on the doorstep time and again the lack of anything for young people to do.
"The Labour administration have already removed a significant amount of community based provision and cutbacks to transport for E3 services at schools has made that service far more difficult to access. Enough is enough."
You can express your opinions online here, email views to servicechange@rctcbc.gov.uk or write to FREEPOST RSBU-HJUK-LSSS, Research & Consultation, The Pavilions, Clydach Vale, CF40 2XX.
