Schools converting to academies in Cambridgeshire have been cashing in at the expense of pupils who need extra help because of their special needs.
The Children and Young People's Scrutiny panel has been told that services will be reduced for disabled children, for young people in care and for those with special needs. An officer report said that 'services will be spread more thinly' and 'lower levels of need will not receive support'. There will also be a reduction in specialist teachers who support primary age children with special needs and a cut in family support packages.
Cambridgeshire Tories should invest £100,000 in cash-strapped care for the elderly rather than setting it aside to give themselves a pay rise, Lib Dems claim.
They have called on the Tories to allocate the money to Adult Social Care rather than use it to line their own pockets.
"At least that way if the Tories give themselves a pay rise the public will be able to see where they are taking the money from," said Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader, Kilian Bourke.
Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats made another bid to save £2.7 million of county bus subsidies today (Tuesday, January 31) as the Tories met to rubber stamp their plans and press ahead with their flawed replacement transport plan.
They fought to reverse the decision after winning the first round of their battle which led to the Tories backing down and putting £1.5 million back into subsidised transport.
A flagship Tory bus replacement project which no-one wants has already cost Cambridgeshire taxpayers £120,000 with another £40,000 committed.
Since launching a pilot for the planned countywide scheme, only one passenger has travelled three times between Sawston and Duxford Station. The traveller didn't have to buy a ticket as the route hadn't been registered so the journey was free.
County Tories have put aside £100,000 in their budget to pave the way for giving themselves a pay rise.
The money provides for an increase Members' Allowances despite the decision to cut £43 million from Cambridgeshire County Council's spending and axe 154 full-time jobs.
Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader, Kilian Bourke said: "This is utter hypocrisy. On the one hand the Tories are cutting services and making staff redundant while on the other they are hoping to give themselves a pay rise.
County Tories have been accused of ignoring Wisbech with their latest budget.
They have recognised the major problems facing the town but taken the decision not to address them in their £472 million budget for Cambridgeshire County Council.
Despite agreeing major capital spending in other parts of the county, they have ignored projects which could help Wisbech's economy and provide jobs.
Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have welcomed the fact that county Tories have listened to their advice and scaled back cuts to buses and libraries and invested more in care for older people in their budget.
The Tories have also taken their lead from the Lib Dem Highways Review in proposing a massive up-front investment in roads, pavements and cycleways to halt the ongoing decline.
A Cambridgeshire County Councillor has called for better communication between the military and Waterbeach residents as the Army prepares to pull out of the village.
Michael Williamson, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Waterbeach and a governor ofWaterbeachPrimary School, fears the move could jeopardise the future of businesses and the school as Army personnel and their families prepare to leave the barracks.
A leading Cambridgeshire County Councillor is calling on giant bus company Stagecoach to rethink changes to two Cambridge services heavily relied upon by elderly residents.
Caroline Shepherd, who represents Trumpington, is worried about people living in the Royal Albert Home at Hills Road who use the City 1, City 3 and two Park and Ride services.
Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are celebrating victory after the Tories staged a dramatic U-turn over their decision to axe 100 per cent of subsidised bus services across the county.
Lib Dems, who had fought a sustained campaign against the cuts for a year, have welcomed the move to invest £1.5 million - just over half the bus subsidies cash - into bus transport.
