Don’t Cut Us Out continues fury at West Sussex County Council cuts

Don’t Cut Us Out campaigners have released a “dossier of

shame” in criticism of the cuts that West Sussex County Council have NOT made

and Chichester is at the centre of many of the complaints.

The campaigners protested in March this year and presented a

petition containing 4.500 signatures as they protested against cuts to funding

adults with “moderate” disabilities. Click here for more information

on the March protest. This remains their motivation as they now protest against

the areas in which West Sussex County Council have NOT made cuts in their £79m reduction.

The “dossier of shame” includes a list of such things that

have not been cut. The campaigners are most angry with no cuts being made to a

£160,000 annual grant towards conserving Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

Neither are cuts being made to the £80,000 annual contribution

to Chichester Festival Theatre.

There may also be a 20% performance bonus for West Sussex

County Council’s chief executive Kieran Stignant on top of his £175,000 salary

which would push his total over £200,000 and £57.500 more than Prime Minister

David Cameron. Moreover, Stignant is currently one of 21 staff within WSCC

earning in excess of £100,000 a year compared to East Sussex CC who have just

12 employees earning above this bracket.

Bob Smytherman, a member of the Don’t Cut Us Out campaign

said: “The Council spends 40% of its annual budget

on Adult Services, and has used accountancy, rather than common sense to

determine how to divide up their £79m reduction.

“Expert after expert say that when you

take away care support from those with 'moderate' disabilities, they quickly

slip down to 'substantial' and even 'critical' levels”

Having handed a petition with 4,500

signatures to WSCC in March, the group handed another petition to the council

on Monday this time containing 11,000 signatures calling for the cuts to be

reconsidered.

A West Sussex County Council

spokeswomen said: “The Don’t Cut Us Out campaign has used its democratic right

and on Monday submitted a petition that will allow for this issue to be raised

at the May 13 full meeting of the county council, when any points it wants to

make can be made.”

What are your thoughts on the cuts

that HAVE and HAVE NOT been made? Are you in favour of the Don’t Cut Us Out

campaign? Maybe you signed the petition? Or are you in favour of WSCC and

sympathise with them that they are making appropriate cuts? Do you think they are right not to cut Chichester Harbour Conservancy funding? Feel free to let us

know where you stand and discuss your views.