THE recent announcement (Sussex Express) from East Sussex County Council regarding public sector spending cuts is both inevitable and disappointing.
Across the region many councils are being asked to rein in their budgets to help alleviate the financial mismanagement of central government.
The consequences of the announced county cuts have yet to be detailed and felt, so Lewes Green Party enco
urages everybody to ask many questions of the Conservative led council's proposed savings.
Visibility, accountibility and public engagement on this issue is needed immediately.
Questions such as: How many council workers will lose their jobs over the coming months and years? Is County Hall still being closed, sold and relocated from Lewes? Could non-essential multi-million pound road schemes be shelved to ensure the continuation and improvement of core public services?
How will local education and social care be affected by budgetary cuts?
How can county council infrastructure projects ensure value for money without expensive delays in the future? These questions, and many more, need to be raised and answered as a matter of urgency so that the magnitude of local public sector cuts can be made clear to the people who feel the brunt of such 'efficiencies'.
Lewes Green Party believes that it is only fair that we should all have access to high quality and effective public services.
Most importantly though, during these challenging times, focus must not be lost on the quality of people's lives, especially of those who are most vulnerable.
Matt Kent, Secretary, on behalf of Lewes District Green Party
