Shropshire youth service cuts 'a kick in the teeth'

The say the move by Shropshire Council is a ‘kick in the teeth’ for the town’s youngsters.

Shropshire Council’s cabinet took the decision to reduce the funding for youth services in Shrewsbury by more than £55,000 compared to the previous year.

Councillor Alan Mosley said: “Since 2015 Shrewsbury Town Council has become the principal provider of youth service provision in Shrewsbury when Shropshire Council announced its intentions to outsource the service.

“Large cuts in Shropshire Council funding followed. Shrewsbury Town Council decided to step in to support and manage youth activities in the town.

“In November 2017 Shropshire Council consulted the public on its intentions to share its £167k budget on an evidence of need with Shrewsbury showing the highest need and the greatest number of young people receiving £45,000 which was a cut from £81,000.

“However the town has now seen its funding cut to £25,000 following pressure from some rural areas despite there being much less evidence of need amongst their young people.

“Funding from Shropshire Council has been cut from £81,000 to £25,000. This slashing of funding when we have already set our budgets for next year is a kick in the teeth for young people of this town. We will have to review how we continue to provide an effective service going forward.”

Nick Bardsley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “I personally wrote to every Shropshire councillor, including Councillor Mosley, drawing attention to the consultation and encouraging participation.

“There was a good response to the consultation and I accepted every meeting invitation I received.

“It’s a pity that Shrewsbury Town Council didn’t take advantage of the opportunity of making their case directly to me. Had I been invited to meet them I would certainly have accepted.”

Kate Garner, locality commissioning manager for Shropshire Council added: Within the report that went to cabinet we say that should there be any specific local challenges to the viability of existing youth provision as a result of these proposals, Shropshire Council will consider what transitional support it may be able to provide.

“Shrewsbury Town Council should talk to us about their specific concerns around the continuation of the provision of youth activities in the town that Shropshire Council has previously financially supported. We will then understand the impact of the new funding allocation on the activity delivered by Shrewsbury Town Council and if there are any such local challenges.”