Dear Editor, Labour councillors have warned that the Council’s budget fails to protect essential services relied upon by disabled residents, SEND families, carers, low income households and older people, including many in Radstock
Labour councillors have warned that the Council’s draft budget puts essential Radstock services at risk. Cllr Dando criticised the administration for running a consultation that attracted just 49 responses across the entire district but was rebuke by the leader of the council for pointing this out!
Radstock has some of the highest levels of deprivation, long‑term health conditions and limited transport access in B&NES. Labour councillors say this makes the area especially vulnerable to cuts affecting:
• support for disabled residents and people with sensory impairments
• SEND advocacy and family support
• autism services
• early years and targeted youth support
• domestic abuse services
• Age UK’s Support at Home and other voluntary‑sector contracts
“These are not optional extras,” Cllr Lesley Mansell said. “They are lifelines for Radstock families who already face multiple pressures at once.”
Equality Impact Assessments raise clear warnings
The Council’s own Equality Impact Assessments repeatedly identify disabled residents, SEND families, carers, low‑income households and older people as being at greatest risk from the proposed budget. Labour councillors argue that Radstock has a higher concentration of households in exactly these groups.
Cllr Chris Dando stated: “When several services come under pressure at the same time, it is Radstock residents who will feel it first and hardest.”
There is a lack of transparency over contract cuts. The administration plans to make £250,000 of contract savings. They have not published the list of the “top 25 contracts” under review. Officers have said that “some” contracts will be protected, without specifying which.
“Without seeing the list, we cannot judge the risk, and Radstock residents deserve honesty about which services may be destabilised,” both councillors said.
Risks to statutory duties
Several contracts that support statutory or safeguarding duties including SEND advocacy, autism support, sensory impairment services and domestic abuse support remain on the savings list.
The Labour Group called for the administration to rethink as leaving these services exposed puts statutory compliance at risk. These services are part of the infrastructure that keeps vulnerable Radstock residents safe.
The councillors agree that if this administration truly cares about improving people’s lives, it must protect the services Radstock residents depend on. With only 49 consultation responses across the whole district, there is no mandate for cuts that deepen inequality. We urge the amendment to look at how to safeguard these essential services.
Yours sincerely, Cllr Lesley Mansell and Cllr Chris Dando.
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