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U-turn joy on Staffordshire schools crossing patrols axe

Controversial plans to cut funding for school crossing patrols across Staffordshire have been scrapped, it has emerged.

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The county council announced last year it needed to make budget cuts of £102million over the next five years.

As a result, 329 school crossing patrols were under threat in a bid to save £250,000, but now bosses have decided to axe the plans under a revised version of the budget.

Amendments to the budget also include spending an extra £20 million on caring for young and older people living in the county from April.

Examples of how the cash will be spent include an extra £1.2m on looking after children in care, £3.9m for supported living and residential care for people with disabilities and £2m on adult social care.

Deputy council leader Ian Parry, who is also the finance boss, said today: "Providing care for those Staffordshire people who need our support is the biggest financial pressure we face.

"In setting a good and balanced budget for the 12 months ahead, we are investing an extra £20million pounds in looking after older people, people with disabilities and children in need of our care.

"Over the next year we will continue to make it our priority to do those things that make the most difference to the lives of Staffordshire people.

"We will work hard to ensure that the economy continues to grow and help support the creation of even more, better paid jobs for Staffordshire residents. We will do everything we can to ensure that people have what they need to help themselves lead decent, independent and healthy lives; and we will provide care where it is needed for those least able to help themselves."

Increasing the care budget by £20million will be met through a range of savings identified across the council including using cash reserves and for the first time in four years an increase in council tax.

Council tax will increase by 1.95 per cent from April, equivalent to an extra 39p a week for band D homes.

If approved by cabinet at the next meeting next Wednesday, the budget plans will go before full council for final approval on February 12.

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