Cllr Alan Connett

Liberal Democrat councillor serving Kenton with Starcross on Teignbridge District Council and Exminster and Kenton division on Devon County Council Learn more

Budget bombshell at county hall

by alanconnett on 3 February, 2014

The future of the Meals on Wheels service in Devon is at risk today following an announcement that the contract will not be renewed as part of the Conservative budget cuts.

Alongside that, the future of the county council’s residential care homes (574 beds) is also ‘under review’ and we have learned that 26 of the 35 days centres will shut affecting 669 people and 317 day centre staff.

Currently, Meals on Wheels delivers 406 hot meals a day and 103 frozen, which the ‘customer’ or a family member for example will then heat.

Last week, it was revealed the county council is going to effectively pull out of running or providing youth clubs and a range of youth related services.

The fact that painful decisions have to be taken by the county council is understood.

However, the secrecy and bleeding out of information is making a mockery of the budget process. The Conservatives have already decided to cut £970,000 from the youth service for example, and is now setting about the process of making that happen even before the council officially sets its budget on either the 20th or 27th of February!

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