With the Tories already looking to cut a quarter of their £22m spend on community wellbeing, prevention and housing related services the Liberal Democrats have pledged to defend vulnerable groups and scrutinise every line of the proposals.  Adult Care Services have already written to everyone of their voluntary and third sector providers to warn them that all contracts, big and small, will be renegotiated.

Allan Witherick, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Adult Care Services said: ‘We all know that cuts are needed because the last Government spent all the money but we have to be sure that the council isn’t making false economies.

‘Although this funding is discretionary and so up to the council, these groups were being funded for a reason.

‘In some cases people are being looked after directly and indirectly so don’t need further services from the council or the health service. But this is not always the case.

‘The Liberal Democrats will be looking at every proposal to try to get the best results for local residents.’