Services to be slashed (From Barry And District News)

Services to be slashed

VITAL services for the Vale of Glamorgan's most vulnerable residents could be slashed by 1.4m next year.

Plaid Cymru has lashed out at the possible huge cuts in social services, which could come as a direct result of the reduced grant from the Assembly.

The Welsh party has expressed anger that the cuts of around 1.4 million will have a greater adverse affect on the weak, young children and the elderly.

Councillor for Plaid Cymru on the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Barry Shaw said: "How can the closure of the Maes y Coed centre, which cares for Look after Children, be seriously proposed? The suggested cut of 108,000 grant to Barnado's would badly affect disabled children and their families.

"Hen Goleg Day Centre offered important day care to the vulnerable. Yet it is proposed to slash 350,000 from the budget and shut the facility.

"What has got into the conservative controlled council? They will try to spin it as just a possibility. We fear it is an attempt to gauge the public's reaction.

"The terrible result may be that those in need could well be badly affected."

The response from the Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader, Jeffrey James was one of disappointment at the comments made about an ongoing review. He said: "The truth is that all bids, all savings and all financial information has been reported to the four Scrutiny Committees, three of which are chaired by Plaid members. Each scrutiny committee have had every opportunity to raise points of concern, prioritise and argue for and against officers' proposed bids and savings proposals.

"The final decision is some weeks off and to raise the matter of Hen Goleg and Rondel House Day Centres and Maes y Coed family centre is just a cynical ploy to focus on three highly emotive areas of the council's work."