GMB North West & Irish Region
6 March 2013

Councillors have approved £28m of spending cuts at a crunch meeting – with children’s centres and parks among services to be hit.

More than 300 jobs at Stockport council will go under the plans, which were voted through by the Liberal Democrat-run town hall.  After-school clubs, holiday play schemes and three children’s centres will be downgraded as the council tries to balance its books.  Council bosses also want to save £1m from a £4m parks budget by asking voluntary groups to take over some work - and 21 youth workers will also be made redundant.
 
Sue Derbyshire, leader of the council, said, the cuts were necessary because of severe cuts in funding from central government.
 
Coun Andy Verdeille, leader of the Labour group, said: “The Lib Dems are presiding over the disintegration of local government in Stockport.”