THE LEADER of Malvern Hills District Council has pledged to do ‘everything he possibly can’ to protect frontline services in the area.
With further cuts expected to be announced in the Autumn Statement, Coun Phil Grove has assured residents and councillors the quality of service provided will not suffer.
“We have been in a position for some years at this council with regard to austerity,” he said. “We are aware of the Autumn Statement and are also aware of the difficulties and challenges that will be before us.
“Yes, it is going to be challenging but we know what we are going to do on this side.
“We recognise there will be real challenges for this council but we are going to do everything we possibly can to protect those frontline services and the residents of those services.”
Cuts have already seen the district council strike up an agreement with Civica to run Worcestershire’s customer services, but there are fears the likes of education, hospitals and emergency services could be at risk.
Coun Julian Roskams, leader of the democratic group, raised the issue at a full council meeting on Tuesday (September 22) and said the challenges were ‘largely of the Conservatives’ making’.
“Less than six months ago Coun Grove and his Conservative party were actively campaigning for the return of a national Government that, while paying lip service to localism, made no secret of its agenda of shrinking the state and savaging local Government budgets,” he added.
“The effects of these cuts are falling disproportionately to the most vulnerable, but are increasingly being felt by us all.”
