Last week Warwickshire County Council released details of the savage cuts to spending budgets required to achieve savings of £67 million by 2020, in order to meet the Government’s austerity targets. Although described as “options”, there is no doubt that most of them will form the basis of the budget proposals to be released by the ruling Conservative group at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The Liberal Democrat group of county councillors set out some of its key budget priorities three weeks ago, when it made clear in public and to the other groups that it would not vote for any further cuts to children’s centre budgets, nor for cuts to fire engines and fire crews. At the time we challenged both Conservatives and Labour groups to say where they stood, but instead there has been a resounding silence.

With the release of the Cabinet papers, it is now revealed that the “options” include a further £1 million (25%) reduction in children’s centre budgets, and a £400,000 cut in retained fire engines and crews. Liberal Democrats will not support either proposal, which could damage our youngest and most vulnerable residents, and put communities at risk.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Warwickshire County Council said

“We’ve waited in vain for either Conservatives or Labour to tell us where their priorities lie, but on Thursday perhaps all will be revealed. We hope that both groups will be prepared to back our public stand in support of these vital services.”