A lot of people turned up for this Cabinet Meeting – the doors of the room had to be opened up so rows of attendees could sit further back – but if people expected a punch-up of some kind, they were to be disappointed. Despite the magnitude of the financial decisions on the agenda, the Cabinet was very much business as usual and the viewing spectators were quiet as mice.

The Leader of the Council spoke about the 1,360 services delivered by WMBC, and how some of these would have to fall by the wayside. He quoted MIke BIrd’s words on the subject and how he agreed with him, that ‘we had lost 86 million over the last four years and were due to lose more over the next four.’ There was a responsibility to set a legal budget. No one disagreed with this and everyone agreed this was the result of austerity, that the Tory Government were to blame. It wasn’t just Walsall; other neighbouring authorities were having to make similar cuts – and the NHS were being forced to make cuts too! So much for some voters thinking the Tories would bring stability to the health service!

Put to the vote the recommendations were agreed. Now people will be consulted on the options, all of which are dire but unavoidable unless Mrs May has a Damascus style conversion on her economic policies. It’s funny how local authorities are expected to stick to this suicidal economic austerity policy while some central departments are going to be given more financial leeway! It’s almost as if the cuts were nothing to do with reducing the deficit and everything to do with a Tory plot to privatise local government. It sounds far fetched, but I think it’s the only logical conclusion; privatisation by the back door!

Content published and promoted by Roy Sheward on behalf of Dan Barker (Liberal Democrats) all at 144 Redhouse Lane, Walsall, WS5 0DB