DEMOCRACY OVERRULED AS LOWER INCOME FAMILIES NOT SUPPORTED

10.49.00am GMT Fri 29th Jan 2010

Liberal Democrat members of Poole's Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny committee won a crucial vote at a recent meeting of the committee, and so rejected proposals to cut discretionary transport assistance for post 16 students by £65,000 or 66% of the total budget. " This proposal would have had a serious impact upon students from low income families", said Cllr Sandra Moore, who added "To take away all assistance for such students is clearly discriminatory as it would reduce their opportunities for further education. There would no longer be equality of opportunity."

But the Conservative Cabinet at its meeting on 26th January unanimously overturned this decision, and agreed to press ahead with the cuts without any consultation with schools or affected families.

Cllr Mike Brooke, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Poole Borough Council and a member of the Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, condemned the Cabinet decision as disgraceful. "It shows the true colours of this administration which clearly has no interest in supporting lower income families. This decision flies in the face of all the Council is trying to achieve in terms of equality of opportunity and supporting low income families. Don't forget these same councillors voted themselves a 25% increase in their responsibility allowances and a 67% increase for committee chairmen. And the Children's Servfices committee chairperson forgot to vote! What's more it is a kick in the teeth for democracy. Clearly there is no point at all in having Overview and Scrutiny Committees if their decisions and recommendations are to be totally ignored."