Wimbledon: £36m council cuts spark job loss fears

More than 50 jobs are set to be axed and services cut back as a council struggles to balance its books - reports the South London Press.

Bean counters at Merton civic centre have worked out that the authority needs to save
£14.4million in the next financial year (2008/09), £13.4million in 2009/10, plus £8.9million in 2010/11.

The authority, like many other councils, will not be receiving enough money from the Government to run all of the services it currently provides and will be hit hard by increases in expenses including landfill tax charges.

A report setting out a list of money-saving proposals, including more than 50 job cuts, was being presented to Monday's cabinet meeting. The budget will be finalised in March.

Council leader David Williams, pictured inset, said: "We will be discussing the staffing proposals with the unions.

"If we don't get the money from the Government that we need, we have three options: to raise council tax, increase fees and charges and cut services.

"There is a four-year pledge that we will keep council tax at the same level in real terms using the retail price index - we will know the exact amount in December."

A full report about the future of day services for elderly and disabled people, including the
All Saints Centre in Wimbledon, is also due to be presented to the cabinet at a meeting in December.

The cost-cutting measures will begin at the end of a three-year programme to save £10million that began in 2005/6.

Wimbledon: Bereavement help slashed

The Wimbledon Guardian reports that a counselling service which has helped hundreds of bereaved people each year is due to close because funding has been withdrawn by health bosses.

The Sutton & Merton bereavement service has been helping those who have lost loved ones, sometimes in tragic circumstances, for 25 years and sees those who have both referred themselves and been referred by their GP.

Though the annual cost of running the service is just £36,000, providing five part-time staff supported by an army of volunteers, the Sutton & Merton Primary Care Trust has refused further funding in an effort to cut costs.

- Article contributed by: R.A. C-H, Wimbledon

Wimbledon: Patients hit by high drug costs

A radical shake up in prescribing medicine could mean some of the borough’s sickest residents are forced to pay more for drugs – reports the Wimbledon Guardian.

Since January, doctor’s surgeries in Sutton and Merton have been encouraged by the primary care trust (PCT) to prescribe regular medication to last for 28 days at a time.

This could result in some patients on regular medication having to fork out a prescription charge of £6.65 every month, rather than paying the same charge for a longer-lasting supply.

Geoff Martin, head of campaigns for pressure group Health Emergency and a Unison official said: "It sounds to me like the PCT is using this as an opportunity to claw back more money and will hit some people very hard in the pocket.

One Merton resident, who did not wish to be named, used to pay £13.30 for a six-month supply of two types of drugs she has taken regularly since having cancer.

She is furious about the new regime, now facing a £159.60 a annual bill, saying: "I may have to do without one of the drugs now, if I can’t afford it."

- Article contributed by: R.A. C-H, Wimbledon