Residents' fears of bleak future with council cuts

People struggling with the cost of living crisis in a town say they have serious concerns about how they will cope in the future with further potential cuts to council services.

Those at the Cadrene Supported Living Centre in Dudley, in the West Midlands, said they were worried at potential council rent increases and other changes by the local authority.

Ferristina Peart-Smith said she faced eviction from her home at the end of the month and might end up on the streets without help from the council.

The authority's leader, Patrick Harley, said there would still be a high level of council service for those who needed it.

Ms Peart-Smith, who has a heart condition and lives with her 22-year-old son who has mental health problems, said, without the council's help, they have nowhere to turn.

The 57-year-old said: "Everything is just escalating, this is the last straw. We need help, and the main place we can get help from is the council.

"If the council is not helping, where are we going to go?"

The council is currently debating £42m in savings for the next financial year and, along with rent increases and a reduction in council tax relief, is also considering cuts to its welfare rights team and mental health services.

Another centre user, Gary Morgan, said his financial situation was so bad, he considered suicide.

Mr Morgan, 58, said he had been looking for a job for the last year.

He said: "I struggle and in April they are going to kill us again, what are the council doing? Where does the money go?

"I was sat in the dark for seven days, I have £13 a week after bills and food and that is gone after two weeks – it's not working, it is broken Britain."

Another user of the centre, a former prison inmate recovering from serious medical problems, who did not wish to be identified, said he was broke for two weeks every month.

The Dudley man, who despite his medical condition, said he was looking for a job, added: "I go to a mate's to shower, I heat or eat and I never watch TV.

"I feel like a tramp on the street and all the things they are cutting is going to make it harder and harder.

"I need help but I am having to do it all myself, I nearly died last year."

Councillor Caroline Reid, who runs the centre in New Street, said: "Our concern is, with all the rises that are going to go on and the reduction in help with council tax, we are going to see a lot more people with mental health [issues] and in crisis with food and welfare benefits.

"How are they going to survive? I fear I'm going to see more people attempting suicide."

The council's leader, Mr Harley, rejected the suggestion cuts would affect services.

"There will be a reduction of service because some departments have been delivering the same service without talking to their counterparts but will there still be a high level of service for those people that need it? Yes there will be," he added.

The budget discussions will conclude with a vote at Dudley Council in late February.

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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