News

'Don't rely on us,' council leader tells residents

By Mike Cotton

Town Reporter

Tuesday 7th February 2012

Barnsley people will have to do much more for themselves as public spending continues to shrink, the council has warned.

A review is underway to look at how the relationship between the ‘citizen and the state’ will change.

The council’s budget from government is shrinking by about a third in the next few years.

Leader of the council Steve Houghton said: “As council services disappear, and welfare benefits shrink and disappear, we’re going to have to move to a position where people are much more self-reliant.

“We need to give them the support and the skills to do that.

“There’ll be much more detail to follow in the next 12 months or so. What we do know is there are going to be some major changes.

“But I will make one thing clear. Barnsley Council has always stood behind vulnerable people, and will continue to do so.”

Comment on this story

Posted by joan on Tue 7th Feb 2012 at 09:20pm THE PEOPLE OF BARNSLEY HAVE SUFFERED INTHE PAST, BUT PLEASE LET US KNOW IN PLENTY OF TIME WHEN THINGS ARE TO BE A LOT WORSE THAN WHAT IT IS NOW? THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NORTH

Posted by nuts on Tue 7th Feb 2012 at 06:54pm The arrogance of Houghton is absolutely astounding! 100k per year plus to tell us we have to do more ourselves! So the council are going to cut yet more services and blame the tories? Same old Rhetoric. AS THE COUNCIL ARE PLANNING SWINGING CUTS PERHAPS THEY SHOULD START WTH A 40% PAY CUT FOR YOU MR HOUGHTON,FOR STARTERS! THE ONLY GOOD THING OUR LABOUR COUNCIL HAVE EVER DONE FOR US IS TO SCRAP CAR PARKING CHARGES ON A WEEKEND TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GOING TO MEADOWHALL / LEEDS TO DO THEIR SHOPPING. I USED TO LOVE GOING SHOPPING IN BARNSLEY, NOW ITS JUST FULL OF SCRUFFS AND IMMIGRANTS,MEADOWHALL AND LEEDS ALL THE WAY FOR ME THESE DAYS! JUST SHOWS THE ARROGANCE OF BARNSLEY LABOUR PARTY,HOW DARE THEY FIELD A CANDIDATE (DAN JARVIS) FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA? LETS BE HONEST, A MONKEY IN AN ASTRONAUTS SUIT WOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED AS LABOUR MP FOR BARNSLEY. HOUGHTON NEEDS TO GO NOW!