We’re only days into 2020 and the Conservative-led administration on Stoke-on-Trent City Council has already announced yet more devastating cuts to services.

The Council is proposing another £9.2m of cuts to important services and to slash yet another 78 jobs at the council. At the same time, they want us to pay 3.99% more for our council tax​.

​In the Council’s budget there is a proposed increase in the residents’ parking charge. This will come straight out of the pockets of residents who are just trying to park on the street outside their own house.

The Budget will also increase the cost of bulky waste collections from £16 to £40. Our streets and alleyways are already struggling with the burden of fly tipping and these new charges will just increase the problem. Have they not already implemented a strategy for a dirtier city when grass cutting and street cleaning staff were cut in the last budget to cover for their own failures?

Other cuts include parents having to pay for transport for children with special needs, poorer services at Meir library, closing Hanley town hall and reviews of vital public health services. We are really disappointed they want to introduce parking charges at Spode after the damaging plans for Stoke town centre announced last year. Look through the full list to see how you will be affected​.

Councillor Mohammed Pervez, the leader of the Labour group, has criticised the budget, saying it, “targets the most disadvantaged people in our communities, annihilates valued services and cuts staff pay whilst residents have to pay more to get less”.

You have until 27 February to comment on the Budget and we’d urge all of our members and supporters to do so​.

​This budget harms the most vulnerable and it is happening to cover local Conservative mistakes and because of the Conservative government’s policy of austerity.