THERE has been a breakthrough in talks between Ludlow Town Council and Shropshire Council aimed at securing a future for vital local services.

Ludlow Town Council claims to have made significant progress in their dialogue with Shropshire Council regarding the proposed cuts to local services.

Gina Wilding, Ludlow Town Clerk, feels that Shropshire Council’s change of direction is a very positive step forward in negotiations.

Following discussions, the town council says that George Candler, director of commissioning at Shropshire Council, has decided that some services and facilities can be taken ‘out of scope’ for the current discussions.

The town council says that he has confirmed that Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, Ludlow Library, Customer Service Points, Ludlow Leisure Centre and youth activities will continue to be funded to some extent by Shropshire Council beyond April 2017

“Ludlow Town Council have always argued that the Museum Resource Centre is a countywide asset as well as being the base for services that Shropshire Council has a statutory obligation to provide such as the library, customer services and registrars,” said Gina Wilding.

“The Leisure Centre is “out of scope” for the current discussions because a new Indoor Leisure Facilities Strategy is currently being developed by Shropshire Council and they are planning to consult on this new strategy over the summer with decisions being taken by SC in the autumn.”

Shropshire Council has adjusted its position on youth activities and the £10,850.00 grant will be retained into 2017/18, but the grant will be cut to zero from April 2018.

Ludlow Youth Centre is currently funded by Shropshire Council, but it is proposed to be placed on the Community Asset Transfer list (CAT), which means that Ludlow Town Council or another community organisation could consider taking on the youth centre.

But any concessions appear to be short term and will buy time for Ludlow Town Council to try to find longer term solutions.

Ludlow Town Council says it has received no assurances from Shropshire Council that services and facilities moved out of scope will remain this way.

“However, it is a step in the right direction and the unrealistic deadline of committing to a 197% increase in delivery of services representing a precept increase from £360,411.00 to over £1million by September 2016 has been reduced to a 48% increase to £538,764.00,” said Gina Wilding.

“The situation is by no means resolved and there are still important local services that Shropshire Council will withdraw funding from April 2017 including Ludlow Assembly Room, Visitor Information Centre, Ludlow Museum, outdoor recreation areas, a grant to Rockspring centre, Ludlow Youth Centre and from 2018 youth activities.”

Paul Draper, the Mayor of Ludlow, has committed the town council to finding a way to secure a sustainable future for services.

“Ludlow is an important market town and an asset in Shropshire,” he said.

“Ludlow Town Council and many other market towns believe that Shropshire Council cannot abdicate its responsibility across Shropshire; and if the council tax needs to be raised beyond the cap set by central government then Shropshire Council has to act responsibly, step up to the plate, and call a referendum to raise the council tax across the county.”