Lib Dems condemn Tory cuts to children, youth and families services in Leicestershire

LIBERAL Democrats in Hinckley and Bosworth are condemning proposals to make massive cuts to Children, Young Peoples and Families services in Leicestershire.

The County Council has announced plans to cut £800,000 from the budget which covers services provided to young people.

LCC hopes much of the slack will be taken up by community and voluntary organisations, but that sector is itself facing budget and funding cuts and Councillors are q uestioning how many services will end up being totally lost.

Councillor Mathew Hulbert, the Borough's Children and Young People's Champion, recently attended Voluntary Action Leicestershire's Voluntary and Community Sector Future Focus Conference and added his views to a stand asking what the priorities for the sector ought to be.

He says, "We think this announcement from the Tory-run County Council is shocking, deeply worrying and could see vitally important services cut for some of our most vulnerable children, young people and families.

"As I made clear at the VAL Conference, the Voluntary and Community Sector is fantastic and does great work, but is itself going through tough economic times and, therefore, you question how much of these lost services it can possibly enable to continue without any funding attached to do so."

"I very much hope the Cabinet at County Hall will think again and reverse these planned cuts."

Hinckley County Councillor, Michael Mullaney, says, "I am very concerned at the huge cutbacks to Youth Services in Leicestershire.

The County still has huge reserves of money in its bank account and a small amount of this could help keep these vital youth services."