UNIONS have hit out at Coventry City Council’s proposals to axe youth clubs, close some libraries, children’s centres and nurseries under its ‘Connecting Communities’ plan.
A three-month consultation period ended last month and key decisions are set to be taken from this month when the universal youth service is set to end.
Unison the union, which represents thousands of council workers, has issued a statement saying ‘fundamental questions have not been answered’.
It states: “Coventry City UNISON has responded with deep concern to the recent ‘Connecting Communities’ proposals from the city council.
“UNISON believes proposals will severely impact specific groups of Coventry residents such as children, older people and black and minority ethnic origin (BAME) people.
“It is unclear how the proposed ‘transformation models’ are sustainable ways to deliver crucial services.
“People will lose access to local facilities -with many older people and children not having the ability to visit a library within easy distance of their home.
“Those losing face to face access to local libraries to learn and use a computer could be seriously disadvantaged in their ability to receive crucial services as they are increasingly being delivered via IT dominated facilities in Coventry city centre.
UNISON Branch Secretary, Sarah Feeney, said: “This proposal could have a disastrous effect on young people in our city.
“We will cease to deliver meaningful services to most young people. It is imperative that the remaining provision should be strengthened and not cut.
“The documents themselves are opaque. It is of great concern that there are so many questions still left unanswered.
“In some cases, these are large fundamental questions such as what the service will look like and which partners are involved.
” UNISON believes that this proposal should be withdrawn and that the consultation should be done when a clear model of what will happen is available to be consulted upon.”
The proposal is for £3.5million savings following further government funding cuts.
Feedback on the consultation is due to go before the council’s leading Labour cabinet on March 7.
For more visit www.coventryunison.co.uk, the Coventry Observer website and Coventry City Council’s website’s Connecting Communities page.
