Liberal Democrats call for a fairer share of funding for Surrey young people and vulnerable adults

Surrey County Council 's Budget for 2015/16 was recently published by the Conservative administration at County Hall before being agreed at full Council on 10 February. The Budget reveals a large cut of nearly £2 million in services for young people and a £16 million increase in services for vulnerable adults.

Liberal Democrat Children and Education Spokesperson Cllr David Goodwin said: "The proposal to cut youth services funding by nearly £2 million is both unacceptable and unnecessary. It is a short-sighted approach as the youth service helps young people to overcome the problems they face and to access education, employment and training. Without that support young people suffer and the cost to society is greater in the longer term. This cut is unnecessary because the County Council has received £4.6 million more Council Tax than expected. I am therefore pressing for £1.9 million of that money be given to the youth service instead of being added to the Council's substantial reserves."

Liberal Democrat Adults Social Care Spokesperson Cllr Fiona White said: " I welcome the additional funding to support vulnerable adults. This goes some way to put right the inadequate funding provided for the current year which finishes at the end of March. During the last year the County Council has been unable to provide the services needed by vulnerable adults within the funding allocated. This has resulted in significant cuts in services for vulnerable adults, extra money being allocated from reserves and a significant over-spend expected at the end of March."

Cllr White added: "This is not the right way to go about running such an important service. It was very clear a year ago that the money allocated for vulnerable adults by the Conservative administration was insufficient. Although this is being put right to some extent for 2015/16, the extra money does not go far enough to put right the cuts already made to the service, the growing demand with an ageing population and inadequate mental health services in Surrey. I am therefore calling on the Conservative administration to add an extra £2.7 million to the Adult Social Care budget to provide more services for vulnerable adults including respite care for carers and more support for residents suffering mental illness. This money would come from the unexpected additional Council Tax money instead of being put into reserves."