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Bucks council reveals where axe will fall: Battered wives and children in care lose out
Services which help victims of domestic violence and support children in care have been massively cut by Buckinghamshire County Council.
The authority has been forced to make 9 million worth of savings in this financial year following a cut in its grant from Government and a run-over on its budget.
On Wednesday it released details of just how it plans to make the cuts, with the Children and Young People department being told to save nearly 5.5 million.Included is a 25 per cent (200,000) reduction in funding for domestic violence work, which the council admits reduces 'our preventative work with women and children at risk of domestic abuse'.
Children in care are also set to lose out to the tune of 135,000, with the council reducing their Christmas and birthday allowances and scrapping paying for their university fees and driving lessons, and reducing extra school support available.
More than 100,000 has also been cut from a scheme which supports dysfunctional families 'causing significant concerns'.
The department has already been rocked by massively increased costs following the Baby P abuse scandal. The cost of looking after children in care and protecting youngsters has already cost 3 million more than planned for.
Other significant cuts include to the Adults and Families (541,000) and Transport (2 million) departments.
They include:
- 30,000 cut in fund for new library books
- 113,000 cut in support for carers
- 509,000 cut in grants for outreach work in schools
- 30,000 reduction in road safety activities.
- 132,000 cut to school transport budget.
- 47,000 saved through reducing staffing levels at the council's contact centre (accomplished through 'vacancy control').
For the full list of savings click here.
More cuts are expected when the Government announces its Comprehensive Spending Review in October.
See next week's Bucks Herald for full details on county council cuts.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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