0:00:29 > 0:00:34It's just not nice, not nice at all.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I came here two years ago
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and I thought it was going to be a wonderful place to be
0:00:42 > 0:00:45and it's turned out to be such a disappointment.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And it's through nobody's fault other than just the state of the country,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50the state of the nation.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Who's to blame? That's what I'd like to know.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Who's to blame for everything that's gone wrong?
0:00:59 > 0:01:00- DAVID CAMERON:- 'I want this government
0:01:00 > 0:01:05'to carry out Britain's unavoidable deficit reduction plan
0:01:05 > 0:01:07'in a way that tries to strengthen
0:01:07 > 0:01:09'and unite our country at the same time.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15'As we deal with the debt crisis, we must take the whole country with us.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18'We are all in this together.'
0:01:18 > 0:01:20ECHO: Together, together...
0:01:20 > 0:01:23For a long time, it felt like the national debt crisis
0:01:23 > 0:01:25was a ministerial numbers game
0:01:25 > 0:01:28being played out in the corridors of Whitehall.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32But as 2010 drew to a close,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35the spotlight had turned on our town halls.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Now, it became everyone's problem.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41PROTESTERS: Say no to closures! Save our centres!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43As a nation, we'd been told
0:01:43 > 0:01:45to expect the biggest cuts in living memory.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49'It's time for a fairer distribution of the nation's wealth,
0:01:49 > 0:01:54'break down all barriers of contention and strife.'
0:01:54 > 0:01:59Over the course of a year, we followed the story of one city,
0:01:59 > 0:02:04the politicians who ran it and the people who lived there.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08How would lives change over the next 12 months?
0:02:08 > 0:02:12What we witnessed was a tale of survival,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14sacrifice,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16politics...
0:02:16 > 0:02:19We pray God's blessing on this meeting.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21..and power.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25And for all who serve this city in any capacity.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27ALL: Amen.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48You know, at the end of the day, we voted them in, for God's sake,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50they should listen to us, but they don't.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53They don't seem to listen to us.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54What are they, in effect,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57what services are they going to take away?
0:02:57 > 0:03:02You know, sometimes in life you have to stand up and be counted,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05but it's all right for the people who are really mega money,
0:03:05 > 0:03:10it's all right for...for governments and people like that.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13But they don't know what it's like,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15they don't...they don't live in the real world!
0:03:15 > 0:03:18These people just do not live in the real world.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Well, they certainly don't live in the world that I live in.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28No-one likes politicians at the best of times,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and this wasn't the best of times.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33'The spending review set out how the government
0:03:33 > 0:03:37'would tackle the catastrophic levels of public debt'
0:03:37 > 0:03:41by delivering necessary reductions in public spending...
0:03:41 > 0:03:42It wasn't a great time
0:03:42 > 0:03:45to be the Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53But Labour's Mohammed Pervez had drawn the short straw.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57He was anxiously waiting for some news,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59an email from London.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01It would reveal how many millions
0:04:01 > 0:04:04the Government was going to slash from the council's budget.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09He knew it would be bad, but not how bad.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Every part of the public sector needs to do its bit
0:04:13 > 0:04:18'to help reduce the highest deficit in the UK in peace-time history.'
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Stoke-on-Trent, minus 8.09%,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28provisional financial settlement '11/'12.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33That's worse than what we anticipated, 7%.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Yeah. Wiltshire, minus 2.19%,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Somerset, minus 1.96%,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Kent, minus 1.82%,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47which would suggest that we haven't fared particularly well.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50This was the just the first stage of cuts to town halls.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Over the next four years, their funding would be slashed by 28%.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59The deficit for the county is minus £10.6 million
0:04:59 > 0:05:03and, for the city, minus £21.6 million.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Plus then, presumably you add on your £11 million worth of pressures,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09takes us into the worst-case scenario.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11THEY SIGH
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Stoke's annual budget was around £211 million.
0:05:15 > 0:05:21The council estimated that this year it faced a £36 million shortfall.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24If it's what it says here,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26it's going to be absolutely dire for our communities,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29because the advice we were getting from government
0:05:29 > 0:05:31or the sources close to government
0:05:31 > 0:05:33was, "It's not going to be as bad as you think."
0:05:33 > 0:05:34Well, we were planning on a 7% cut
0:05:34 > 0:05:35and we're getting 8%,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38so it's worse than what we thought.
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Hmm.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04The axe had fallen on one of the most deprived cities in Britain.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07In Stoke, unemployment was rife,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09houses, the cheapest in the country,
0:06:09 > 0:06:13incomes, a third below the national average.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19The city had been in decline for the best part of 30 years.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Industry had collapsed
0:06:22 > 0:06:27and the potteries it was famed for had moved east...
0:06:27 > 0:06:28Far East.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32The City Council hadn't moved with the times either.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35It had grown to become Stoke's single biggest employer.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41It's a good job, it's just, you know, with all this,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43it's not a good atmosphere at the moment to be here.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Everybody, the uncertainty and everything, it's not nice.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49And what I say, cost-cutting - front-line services
0:06:49 > 0:06:51are always the first to be hit, aren't they?
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Saying it affects families
0:06:53 > 0:06:56because like, I say, my sister's in like this social set,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59she's, like, works in a care home.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03She doesn't know whether she's going to have a job so...
0:07:03 > 0:07:04You know, it affects...
0:07:04 > 0:07:06it's discussions now at weekends with your family
0:07:06 > 0:07:08when you meet up, you know, "Have you heard anything?
0:07:08 > 0:07:10"Have you had any news?"
0:07:10 > 0:07:13It's the not knowing that's the worst part.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21RADIO: "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Saving £36 million meant
0:07:29 > 0:07:32the council would have to make value judgments.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Some were more contentious than others.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45On the cuts list was a care home for the elderly.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Heathside House opened 30 years ago.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57It was one of the last council homes left in Stoke.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Care of the elderly was gradually being privatised.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05On its own, one little duck,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07number two.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Shutting this home would save the council half a million a year.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Two and nine, 29.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16It would still have to pay residents' fees,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20but no longer the staff wages or building costs.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25But Heathside wasn't simply an old people's home.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Nearly all the 30 residents suffered from dementia
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and needed expert care.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Hello, where are you going? - Where are you going?
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Where are you going? Put your glasses on so you can see where you're going.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- Oh, I know who it is now. - Do you know who I am now? Who am I?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- You...- Who am I, though? - You...
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- Who?- You.- Who, though? What's me name?
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Oh, I don't know, I don't do names.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55- You do know me name. - I don't do names.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Come on, who am I?
0:09:00 > 0:09:01A little peach.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04A little peach, yeah, but who am I? Am I your daughter?
0:09:04 > 0:09:05Oh, you're not me daughter.
0:09:05 > 0:09:06Yeah, what's me name?
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Oh, I don't know. Me daughter?
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Viv.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- Viv?- Uh-huh.- Well, that's it, then.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Viv.- Vivienne?- Vivienne.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Ah, it's Viv.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- Your daughter.- Your daughter.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Now then, the picture of John and me.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34John in his uniform, um...
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Are you going to your room?
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- Yes.- I'll just go and open it for you.- Will you, duck?
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Yeah, I'll go up in front of you.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- All right, duck, I want the picture of John and me.- OK.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- May?- Yeah. There you are.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50May was John's wife.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54Their four children had decided to put them both into Heathside
0:09:54 > 0:09:58when they could no longer look after themselves.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01That was John when he was in the Navy.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04He was not bad, was he?
0:10:04 > 0:10:05SHE CHUCKLES
0:10:05 > 0:10:08How old do you think he was then?
0:10:08 > 0:10:13Ah, he's older than me, he must be 90 odd now. Um...
0:10:13 > 0:10:15And I'm...
0:10:15 > 0:10:1850, 40 something.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- Now?- Yes.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24How old are you now?
0:10:24 > 0:10:2745, I think, something like that,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29when I can remember.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33I'm as bad as him for remembering, um...
0:10:33 > 0:10:34But John's 90.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37He's older than me, yeah.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40It's funny, thinking he's that old.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Viv was the youngest of May and John's children.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Me dad's got a book that was made up for him
0:10:50 > 0:10:53when he was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56And they did it at the day centre that he attended
0:10:56 > 0:11:01and it's got all family photographs in and more or less his life story.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10Um... But, obviously, I don't really know where it is at the moment.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Ah!
0:11:14 > 0:11:16The Life Story Of John Vickers.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18SHE LAUGHS
0:11:18 > 0:11:20And this is my mum and dad's wedding.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23My mum's parents, my dad's parents.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26So they got married in 1947?
0:11:26 > 0:11:27Yes.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- That's a long time.- It is.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- He's here.- I was a bit worried.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Hi, sweetheart, he says.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- Hi! Hiya, how are you? - Hello, lovely.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41That's why, you know, we wanted to keep them together
0:11:41 > 0:11:43because they were trying to split them up,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46put me dad here and leave me mum, you know,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48in the house on her own or whatever.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50So we had to battle with social workers
0:11:50 > 0:11:52to get them, you know, together
0:11:52 > 0:11:54because we didn't want them splitting up, you know,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56it's too long to be together.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01This was the 60th wedding anniversary.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05So tell us a bit about where you are at now with all this.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07No-one said that they will keep them together.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09I just don't know...
0:12:09 > 0:12:13It's something I don't want to think about, really.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Have you spoken to your mum quite a bit about it?
0:12:16 > 0:12:18I don't bring the subject up
0:12:18 > 0:12:21because I don't want her to be any more upset
0:12:21 > 0:12:23than she is already or worried,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25but she asks us about it, she keeps saying,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27"There's something going on here," you know.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Like I say, she's been waking up in the night
0:12:30 > 0:12:32and thinking she's got to move out.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39I wouldn't like to think they're going to turn us out, you know.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46But, um...I'll have to see how it goes.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48If you're turned out, you don't know,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51we haven't got a home now because we sold it.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Does John know the home might not stay open?
0:12:55 > 0:12:56Yes, he knows.
0:12:56 > 0:13:02John, look at me, while he takes a picture of us.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Put your arms down, lovey.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08'He never mentions it very much
0:13:08 > 0:13:15'but...he isn't quite up to thinking, you know.'
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- Well, there we are.- Thanks, May.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21It's been nice meeting you two, you know.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I've really enjoyed it, it's been different.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25Here we go.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- Here we are.- Let's go in.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Coming in, gentlemen?
0:13:30 > 0:13:33No? Right, we'll go down, then, May.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- They don't want to join us. - All right.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Industrial collapse had left Stoke
0:14:09 > 0:14:12with more than just an unemployment problem.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Out! Out of there because of all the glass! Out!
0:14:18 > 0:14:23One in four of the working population was on benefits.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25In parts of the city,
0:14:25 > 0:14:29the work ethic had gradually been replaced by a culture of dependency.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31CHILDREN SING
0:14:40 > 0:14:45The Withers family lived on one of Stoke's poorest estates - The Meir.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Donna and Anthony had seven children -
0:14:50 > 0:14:52the oldest, 11,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54the youngest, three months.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Neither of them worked.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Getting them into bed is no problem,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04the issue is them staying in bed and them going to sleep.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- Blake!- Yeah.- What are you doing?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12It took a year, the last time, didn't it, babe,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15for them to settle down properly?
0:15:15 > 0:15:21And not forgetting that this is their...what, seventh house?
0:15:21 > 0:15:22Yeah.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Get into bed!
0:15:24 > 0:15:25Was he on the stairs?
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Someone was, I could see the shadow, yeah.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33We needed to move this time because, obviously, we needed a bigger house.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Does anybody have the remote control?!
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Which one?
0:15:38 > 0:15:41'But, as before, we moved from Leicester or...'
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Thank you!
0:15:43 > 0:15:47'And we've said, "Now we are in Stoke, we're staying in Stoke."'
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Because it was having a major impact on their education, wasn't it?
0:15:51 > 0:15:52It was, really, yeah.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Hey! Bed, thank you.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57This is the way to bed.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Come on, oh!
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- Night-night, lay down. - Night-night.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06You can watch Britain's Got Talent for half hour and then it's bed.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- Night-night.- Night-night.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Ashley, you pull that thingy down for me,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15your blind, that's it.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17See you in the morning.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19CHILDREN: See you in the morning.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29Do you ever think, "God, when's the time to stop on children?"
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Hmm, that's a good question, I've not though that far ahead.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35HE LAUGHS
0:16:36 > 0:16:39We never actually discussed starting having a family.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42We was living in Leicester in a hostel.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47Er...we'd not long just got together, she was 18.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50And, er...she just fell pregnant,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54so, you know, we just...
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Basically, we ended up growing up.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00What would you say if people said, "Well, you haven't grown up,"
0:17:00 > 0:17:03because you've got eight dependants
0:17:03 > 0:17:05and you can't support them financially.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10It's not all about money, is it?
0:17:10 > 0:17:14'To a lot of people, it was all about money, especially now.'
0:17:15 > 0:17:18But their story wasn't quite that simple.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Donna suffered from severe mental illness.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25It went back to her childhood,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27one that she'd spent in and out of care
0:17:27 > 0:17:29after suffering from terrible abuse.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Kiss, kiss. Kiss, kiss.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34It meant she couldn't spend long periods in the house alone,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38so Anthony had given up work to be her full-time carer.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Mwah!
0:17:40 > 0:17:42'Anthony used to work 90 hours,'
0:17:42 > 0:17:46er...if I was lucky, 40, 50 hours a week.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49At the time, I couldn't physically carry on,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52emotionally and mentally with all me children
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and I felt like I was breaking down.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Why do you think Donna wanted children so much?
0:18:01 > 0:18:04She wanted to surround herself with a lot of children
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and people that love her
0:18:06 > 0:18:09because when she was a child, she never got loved,
0:18:09 > 0:18:13not by her real family, which is what she craved.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15But she has that now.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19'It helped explain why they'd had so many kids,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23'but it meant there was a cost to everyone else.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25'One that they didn't seem to recognise.'
0:18:25 > 0:18:30Come on, then, she has to wait for Mummy's love normally.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Don't you, 'specially at this time?
0:18:33 > 0:18:35They were now in a position
0:18:35 > 0:18:38where they couldn't manage without outside help.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41They relied on their local Sure Start centre.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46In Stoke, they called them children's centres.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Donna's had just helped get her re-housed.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Under Labour, 16 centres had been opened,
0:18:52 > 0:18:57supporting families with childcare, early education and health.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01The aim was to give every child the best possible start in life
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and break the cycle of dependency.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10But now, the council couldn't afford to keep them all open.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Critics said there were simply too many.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16PROTESTERS: Save our centres! Say no to closures!
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Seven were threatened with closure,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21saving the council more than £2 million.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24PROTESTERS: Say no to closures!
0:19:24 > 0:19:26A campaign led by the city's mums
0:19:26 > 0:19:31had the support of 5,000 names on a public petition.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36This was one of several anti-cuts groups that had formed.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39As a nation, we were told we were all in this together,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42but, on the ground, it was everyone for themselves.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46PROTESTERS: Save our centres! Say no to closures!
0:19:46 > 0:19:51If we can fight against every cut that they bring against us, we will.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Because it's the children, you know, it's about our future.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Other areas of the country know
0:19:57 > 0:20:00that this is going to happen to them eventually.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02In one budget or another,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06perhaps it's not this one, but the next one or the one after,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08it could be their children's centres.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11So people have been on to us constantly with,
0:20:11 > 0:20:13"You're the first doing this.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15"Can we watch what you're doing,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18"so if it happens to us in the future, we know what to do?"
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Are you not about to let Stoke City Council off the hook?
0:20:21 > 0:20:27Never, the other services that are protesting at the moment,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31I'm never going to say that they are any less important than ours,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35all I'm saying is, this is the way I'd do it.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40This is what I want, this is the way I want us to go forward,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44and I will try my utmost to gain what I want.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48You've put the council in a difficult position now, haven't you?
0:20:48 > 0:20:51It's where I wanted them to be.
0:20:55 > 0:21:02The campaign hadn't gone unnoticed by Council Leader, Mohammed Pervez.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06It had fast become a political hot potato,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10but it was due to be debated by the full council within days.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13We're doing it in your office.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Oh, we're doing it, changing our...? OK.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17There's a problem with the radiator.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- All right.- It's freezing cold. - OK, that's fine.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26But first, the Leader had called a meeting of the cabinet -
0:21:26 > 0:21:28the council's senior decision-making body.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33It was made up of councillors
0:21:33 > 0:21:36from the three main parties plus some independents.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38With no overall majority,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Councillor Pervez had formed this coalition
0:21:41 > 0:21:43at the same time as the Prime Minister.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46He wanted to talk strategy.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49I haven't had a recent update as to how far we are
0:21:49 > 0:21:51with the children's centres,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55but we do need some information
0:21:55 > 0:21:57as to what the proposal's going to be now.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59They now have a plan,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02the issue is whether you actually want to get
0:22:02 > 0:22:05into trying to defend that plan at a question time
0:22:05 > 0:22:06or whether you just want to bat it back
0:22:06 > 0:22:08in terms of it's still under consideration.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11But what we were trying to avoid is the situation
0:22:11 > 0:22:13where you have to declare your hand,
0:22:13 > 0:22:14because, once you have declared it,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16then you're really open to challenge on it.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18You're not making a decision until February.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21You really need to keep the powder dry,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23because you'll be reacting to them asking you stuff
0:22:23 > 0:22:26and you might come out and say, "Actually, there's only three, then."
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Whereas you want to be in a position where you're the one who says,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31"We've made a decision in the Cabinet
0:22:31 > 0:22:32and we are able to produce X,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34"we're closing three, we're closing four."
0:22:34 > 0:22:35Not reacting but leading on it,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37that is what I was touching on earlier on.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40I know how difficult it'll be for you to sit there and take it,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43but you don't want to let you slip out what your plans might be.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46But given what we've heard from the public,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48but what we need to be seen to be doing
0:22:48 > 0:22:50is listening and acting on the voices of the communities
0:22:50 > 0:22:53and their elected representatives and saying,
0:22:53 > 0:22:58"Actually, we have safeguarded all these things, we've protected these,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00"these are what we're going ahead with
0:23:00 > 0:23:02"because there's no alternative."
0:23:02 > 0:23:03It was easy to forget
0:23:03 > 0:23:07that Mohammed Pervez was only a part-time politician.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11He was paid for being the Leader, 44,000 a year,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15but also had a full-time job as a research scientist.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20But politics was his preoccupation. And he'd risen fast.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26If I'm honest, this is something that I'm really, really enjoying so much
0:23:26 > 0:23:32that I, if there was some more stability in politics,
0:23:32 > 0:23:37I would want to do this on a much more full-time basis.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39One of the things I've done is
0:23:39 > 0:23:43I've really sort of driven the whole budget process personally myself
0:23:43 > 0:23:44and really got into it.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48You said, when we first met, that you didn't come into politics
0:23:48 > 0:23:49to do what you're doing now.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Absolutely, I didn't. But it's a job that needs to be done,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55I felt that I am the right person for this job.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59A leader should be able to work under all circumstances,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01not just in good times.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25- Nice cup of tea, Mabel. - Mmm, very nice.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- Morning.- Morning.
0:24:41 > 0:24:46The Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council is with me this morning.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49If you have a question for Councillor Mohammed Pervez,
0:24:49 > 0:24:5401782 208 008 or text me, 81333.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01It's like Desert Island Discs.
0:25:01 > 0:25:02HE LAUGHS
0:25:02 > 0:25:06No, it's supposed to be a relaxed kind of atmosphere.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Let's see how relaxing it gets.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Mohammed Pervez was in a tricky spot.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15As Council Leader, he was the public face of the cuts.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17But in just a few weeks,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20he'd be asking the people of Stoke for their verdict on him
0:25:20 > 0:25:21in an election.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Feargal Sharkey and A Good Heart,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26it's seven minutes past eleven on BBC Radio Stoke.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28For the next hour, you have the opportunity
0:25:28 > 0:25:29to ask any question you like,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32within reason, to the politician in charge
0:25:32 > 0:25:35of most of the public services in Stoke-on-Trent.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37We'll have to talk about cuts,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39cos I think that's the thing on everyone's mind at the moment,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42'not just the City Council but across the country.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44'Uh... You're closing two care homes,
0:25:44 > 0:25:45'which, some would argue,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48'is another cut to vulnerable people's services...'
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Stiff, are you?
0:25:50 > 0:25:53There you go. It's a bit easier as you walked a bit.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57'The two homes that we're closing down are quite old homes.'
0:25:57 > 0:26:00They're of poor quality
0:26:00 > 0:26:03'and what we're actually looking to do is close these homes down
0:26:03 > 0:26:08'and try and provide care for the elderly in the independent sector.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10'The most important thing is'
0:26:10 > 0:26:14that the financial pressure on the council is such
0:26:14 > 0:26:16that we have to look at everything that we're doing
0:26:16 > 0:26:18and try and get more cost-effective,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23'and running care homes is not a cost-effective option as it stands.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26'There will be an element of disruption, obviously,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28'as they move from these care homes and go somewhere else,
0:26:28 > 0:26:33'but, nevertheless, we should be able to provide some facilities'
0:26:33 > 0:26:35which are right for those people.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37How can he talk about disruption?
0:26:37 > 0:26:41I mean, at the end of the day, it's far more than disruption.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45What do you think about that discussion?
0:26:45 > 0:26:46SHE SIGHS
0:26:46 > 0:26:48What do I think about it?
0:26:48 > 0:26:49SHE SIGHS
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Mr Pervez was saying what Mr Pervez has to say.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58I can't agree with what he was saying - we're poor care homes.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02The building might not be wonderful, but the care in the building is.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05And I would like him to come and have a look at it,
0:27:05 > 0:27:07if he thinks we're that poor.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10I don't really like that, I'm sorry.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Just backcomb it a little bit so it'll stay in,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15- cos we got entertainment, don't we, later?- Yeah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20And you like your hair looking nice, don't you?
0:27:20 > 0:27:22You always have done.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24'Of all the old people at Heathside,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28'staff were most worried about the fate of 88-year-old Mabel Brammer.'
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Is it all right now?
0:27:31 > 0:27:33How long have you been living here?
0:27:33 > 0:27:3720 years, been in here 20 years.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38That's a long time.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43I started a young, er...60, I'm now 88.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Really?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I've been here 20 years, anyway.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50And what about... what about your family?
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Oh, they're all gone.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54I'm just about left on me own now.
0:27:54 > 0:28:00Nobody will have me, really, I've got to rely on these here.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02So, you don't get...?
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Do you get any visitors?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07No, I'm left on me own.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10The office staff will have to look after me now.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11SHE CHUCKLES
0:28:11 > 0:28:13I'm left here...
0:28:13 > 0:28:16SHE MUMBLES
0:28:16 > 0:28:19I've got to rely on them.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21They do the looking after me,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24they do it well, though, they do it well.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39She never spoke a word, when she first came.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45She kept herself to herself, she never spoke for years and years.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47It's only up until about
0:28:47 > 0:28:49five years, I think now,
0:28:49 > 0:28:53she's coming out of herself. So...
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Did you, Mabel?
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Mabe, you never spoke, did you, when you first came?
0:28:59 > 0:29:02No, I was as quiet as anything, me.
0:29:02 > 0:29:07SHE MUMBLES
0:29:07 > 0:29:09You never spoke, did you?
0:29:09 > 0:29:10No, quiet I was.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Now you can't get a word in edgeways.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14SHE LAUGHS
0:29:14 > 0:29:16And how long have you been here?
0:29:16 > 0:29:18- 20 years. You've been here 24, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20I know you were here longer than me,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23- I know you've been around a good while.- I have.
0:29:23 > 0:29:24I'm going to make your tea now.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28OK. Me tea is coming.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30How do you think she'll get on if she does move?
0:29:30 > 0:29:36I think it'll upset her, she'll probably go back to not speaking.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Really?
0:29:38 > 0:29:39Are you worried for her?
0:29:39 > 0:29:44Yeah. It's like losing your family, isn't it?
0:29:46 > 0:29:48Do you feel that way towards her?
0:29:48 > 0:29:50Yeah.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Does it upset you?
0:29:54 > 0:29:55Yeah.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Today, Leader Pervez had something else on his agenda.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19Public pressure was mounting.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22The petition to save the seven children's centres
0:30:22 > 0:30:24had gained another thousand signatures.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29To add to his troubles, Melissa was about to enter the political fray.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33The city's mums had chosen her to address the full council.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37She'd have just five minutes to speak for the 23,000
0:30:37 > 0:30:39who used Stoke's children's centres.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43'If I start thinking about who'll be there today
0:30:43 > 0:30:46'and how far I've seen them all through it,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49'and what everybody is thinking
0:30:49 > 0:30:52'and what their hopes and aspirations for today are,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54'then, you crack.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57'No, I can't do that, I can't even think about that.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00'Because everything... Their lives will completely change
0:31:00 > 0:31:03'if this...if these centres got closed.'
0:31:03 > 0:31:09You know, they've got all the hopes and the dreams set on this working.
0:31:12 > 0:31:13Good luck, eh?
0:31:13 > 0:31:16- I'll see you later.- See you later.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Um... I've just had a message to ring Pervez,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21which is our Council Leader.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25Um... Don't know what it's regarding.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Hi, Councillor Pervez,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36it's Melissa Beydilli, from Save Our Children's Centres.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Hi, hi, how are you?
0:31:47 > 0:31:49Right.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52But we're not here to be political,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54we're here to just put over the passion
0:31:54 > 0:31:56that we have for our children's centres.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Is that OK?
0:32:01 > 0:32:05That's wonderful, thank you very much. Thanks, bye.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10Why was the Council Leader ringing you?
0:32:10 > 0:32:15Um... Not to give any political intervention, he was saying,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19but if you wanted to come up and I would help you to write a speech,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21then he can do so.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Do you think that was an attempt to sort of exert a political influence?
0:32:25 > 0:32:26I wouldn't like to say.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28SHE CHUCKLES
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Um... I wouldn't...
0:32:30 > 0:32:36I'd...like to think that everybody was doing what they are doing
0:32:36 > 0:32:39are doing it with their best intentions
0:32:39 > 0:32:42and with our campaign at heart,
0:32:42 > 0:32:44not for political gain.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I would like to think that.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50So, um, only time will tell, you know.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54You'll be around, let's see what happens in the future.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57PROTESTERS: Save our centres, save our staff!
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Council cuts just makes us laugh!
0:32:59 > 0:33:04'Save our centres, save our staff! Council cuts just makes us laugh!'
0:33:04 > 0:33:08CHANTING ECHOES AND FADES
0:33:23 > 0:33:27We'd just witnessed an important moment -
0:33:27 > 0:33:30the game of politics had begun.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43We now have a children's centre petition,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46I'm going to invite Melissa Beydilli.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53I want to start by saying we are passionate about this campaign.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56We are not politicians, we're not givers of statistics,
0:33:56 > 0:33:59we're everyday mums and dads,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01who've been given this wonderful gift
0:34:01 > 0:34:04of the Sure Start children's centres -
0:34:04 > 0:34:09a place of safety, security, a harmonious learning environment
0:34:09 > 0:34:13for the people we hold most dear in this society, our children.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Our early intervention can break
0:34:16 > 0:34:21the intergenerational cycle of dysfunction and under-achievement.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24This is what the children's centres
0:34:24 > 0:34:27have been working towards in our communities.
0:34:27 > 0:34:32We have done a petition and it has got near on 6,000 signatures now,
0:34:32 > 0:34:36but that could be 8,000/10,000 within their household,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39but we are unhappy with the way the budget cuts are going
0:34:39 > 0:34:44and look forward to the next council elections.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47And I hope that, you know, for the future,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50we will be making it into a nicer Stoke-on-Trent
0:34:50 > 0:34:53and not a place where we don't want to live any more. Thank you.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Congratulations on amassing such a large petition
0:35:01 > 0:35:02in such a small period of time.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06I would like to endorse what Melissa says fully.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08I must actually congratulate you, Melissa.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10You've hit on every single point,
0:35:10 > 0:35:13it's exactly really why we wanted the children's centre originally.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16I was a Sure Start board member ten years ago,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18setting up a Sure Start,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and I even had the pleasure, for a period of time, of working for them.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24In not being political, I am reminded of the general election campaign
0:35:24 > 0:35:29in the run up to May, when our party did say
0:35:29 > 0:35:33that if Mr Cameron made it into Number 10,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36we will be facing large cuts to Sure Start.
0:35:36 > 0:35:41And I really would appeal to government - rethink your policy.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Chief Exec, John van de Laarschot, was from the private sector.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00Ironically, he'd been hired in to streamline the council.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03'The piece that came out was, you know, massive public support,
0:36:03 > 0:36:04'cos they want them.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06'The piece that didn't come out is the usage.'
0:36:06 > 0:36:08And the usage is not particularly high in certain areas,
0:36:08 > 0:36:11so if you look at it on an economic perspective,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13there's a damn good argument for closing some of them.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16'But he was only an officer.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20'He could advise, but it was the politicians who made the call.'
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Do you think politically it's getting quite tricky now
0:36:23 > 0:36:26to do anything with the children's centres?
0:36:26 > 0:36:29Yeah, I think for the councillors now, it's really challenging,
0:36:29 > 0:36:31because not only have they got to
0:36:31 > 0:36:33come up with a very aggressive budget,
0:36:33 > 0:36:35but they're also up for re-election in May,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39so it's the worst of both worlds, to be fair.
0:36:40 > 0:36:45Because that 6,000 petitioners could be 12,000 voters, I guess.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Yeah, quite easily and, you know,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51and you look across the 17 centres, they're scattered all over the city,
0:36:51 > 0:36:53so there are ramifications for
0:36:53 > 0:36:56nearly all of the elected members in this type of call.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00Do you think they are sort of thinking about their seats in May
0:37:00 > 0:37:04when they are hearing about the children's centres?
0:37:04 > 0:37:08Um... Well, yeah, of course they are.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11The way politicians work,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13they go by the flow of the public.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16And given there's such given demand from the public about it,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19it will be foolish for any politician to go against that.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Is it who shouts the loudest?
0:37:21 > 0:37:24Absolutely not, that's certainly not the case with me.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29As I say, things like respite care and so on,
0:37:29 > 0:37:32there might not be a huge number of people behind them
0:37:32 > 0:37:33but, nevertheless, we have a moral duty
0:37:33 > 0:37:38to look after the most vulnerable in our communities and we will do that.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42'Moral duty? Or what was politically most popular?'
0:37:42 > 0:37:43Thank you.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45'That was the choice.'
0:37:45 > 0:37:47And, actually, just to show you,
0:37:47 > 0:37:49I have been given a nice book
0:37:49 > 0:37:53that the City Council produced on children's centres - Family Stories.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55And I've been reading this.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58And the more you read this, the more it sinks in
0:37:58 > 0:38:01as the importance of children's centres
0:38:01 > 0:38:03and what value it brings to families
0:38:03 > 0:38:06who really, really depend on these centres.
0:38:06 > 0:38:11So that's another hard-hitting message to me and to my cabinet
0:38:11 > 0:38:13as to the value of children's centres.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22# I got my mojo working, baby
0:38:22 > 0:38:26# And I'm gonna try it on you
0:38:27 > 0:38:29# Oh, yeah... #
0:38:29 > 0:38:33In good times, the council had spent and then spent some more.
0:38:33 > 0:38:38How many town halls could now afford both a city farm and a golf course?
0:38:38 > 0:38:41They'd surely be the first to go.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45But the size of the cuts meant much more was at risk -
0:38:45 > 0:38:47public toilets,
0:38:47 > 0:38:49street-sign cleaning,
0:38:49 > 0:38:51swimming pools, CCTV.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Nothing was safe.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01'Well, the cuts which have been outlined today, Tim,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03'are across the board.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07'As you mentioned, the Shelton and Tunstall pools are to go
0:39:07 > 0:39:10'along with the Fenton and Burslem Libraries,
0:39:10 > 0:39:14'and the care homes for the elderly at Heathside and Eardley.'
0:39:14 > 0:39:17The Leader and his Chief Exec had finally gone public
0:39:17 > 0:39:21on the actual cuts they wanted the full council to vote on.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24For now at least, the children's centres appeared to be safe.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Yes!
0:39:28 > 0:39:31But the care home was still at risk.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33MUSIC PLAYS
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Its future hung by a thread.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51'You live with it, you just carry on doing the job.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53'Everyone carries on doing what they're doing,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55'we look after the residents,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57'we do everything that we should do
0:39:57 > 0:40:01'and you forget about the situation that we're in.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03'At the end of the day,'
0:40:03 > 0:40:04I firmly believe, you know,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07that we've got to keep going as we are doing.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10For the sake of the residents and the staff,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12we just keep going as we are doing.
0:40:12 > 0:40:13Keep the ship steady...
0:40:13 > 0:40:15SHE LAUGHS
0:40:15 > 0:40:16..stop it rocking.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Eventually, we shall know more.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22I would like to know where me future lies,
0:40:22 > 0:40:25but, at the moment, I don't
0:40:25 > 0:40:27and, well, we'll just have to wait and see.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33There had been no public campaign backing the home.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37Instead, the families of those living there had to fight alone.
0:40:37 > 0:40:43They'd left it until the 11th hour to go on the offensive.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47May and John's daughter, Viv, had demanded a meeting with the Leader.
0:40:47 > 0:40:52Her elder sister, Lyn, a solicitor, was there to help.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54LEADER PERVEZ: 'In terms of where we are,
0:40:54 > 0:40:56'what I want to try and get from yourselves,
0:40:56 > 0:40:58'is hear from yourselves as to what your concerns are.'
0:41:00 > 0:41:04The council does provide a good level of care from our care homes,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08but the cost of doing that is huge,
0:41:08 > 0:41:12far more than what can be provided in the private sector
0:41:12 > 0:41:15whilst maintaining the level of care.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19And also, it's about our vision of what the council wants to do
0:41:19 > 0:41:21in terms of adult social care,
0:41:21 > 0:41:26and it is very much along the lines of rehabilitation,
0:41:26 > 0:41:28short-term type care
0:41:28 > 0:41:34and trying to then provide a re-enablement as far as possible.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36What does rehabilitation mean?
0:41:36 > 0:41:38These people have got dementia, can you make them better?
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Yeah, all right, well...
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Cos that's just baloney to me.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Do you want to come in at this stage and...?
0:41:44 > 0:41:46I can talk to you a bit about some of your comments...
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Heathside, have you visited it?
0:41:48 > 0:41:51- I haven't been to Heathside. - Sorry, what is your position?
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Assistant Director for Adult Social Care...
0:41:53 > 0:41:54But you've not visited the home.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56- I haven't been to Heathside.- Right.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59I've worked for this authority for just over three months.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02No, I haven't been to Heathside, although I'm planning to.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Counsellor Pervez, have you visited Heathside?
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- To Heathside, no.- No.- No.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09I'd like very much for you to agree to visit Heathside.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12And I can visit Heathside, that's not an issue, that's fine.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16Can we diarise a time to do that?
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Maybe you both need to visit, actually.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21I think, I'd just like to say that I can understand
0:42:21 > 0:42:25that you will obviously be very concerned about the change of care,
0:42:25 > 0:42:28the change is unsettling and the change is difficult,
0:42:28 > 0:42:30so that is acknowledged.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34What we are trying to do is to give as much support as we can
0:42:34 > 0:42:38and to work with the families and the residents
0:42:38 > 0:42:41to find the best way to meet their needs in the future.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43How will you be achieving that?
0:42:43 > 0:42:47Because I'm not aware that there's been really
0:42:47 > 0:42:50any proper consultation about the move.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53There's lots of half... half-baked measures,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56but there doesn't appear to be any real attempt
0:42:56 > 0:43:00to sit down with the families and talk about what meets the needs...
0:43:00 > 0:43:03I mean, in my case, of my parents.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Nobody around here has had any conversations...
0:43:06 > 0:43:09There's been no proper consultation, so you've failed in that.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11So that's all completely...
0:43:11 > 0:43:13I have a list here...
0:43:13 > 0:43:18It's just being reviewed by council and consultation.
0:43:18 > 0:43:19Consultation after even the decision
0:43:19 > 0:43:21that we continue to work with the families
0:43:21 > 0:43:23to make sure that provision is provided?
0:43:23 > 0:43:28Yes, I mean, the social workers have been working with the families
0:43:28 > 0:43:31and with the residents, to undertake an assessment...
0:43:31 > 0:43:35One telephone call. It's your responsibility.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38But I told my mum she was going in another home,
0:43:38 > 0:43:41and she couldn't... She just started crying.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43How do you tell a pensioner
0:43:43 > 0:43:45that she's got to be moved from one home to another?
0:43:45 > 0:43:49I wouldn't move your mum. We don't know that Heathside is closing.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51Nobody's made a decision.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54You leave your mum in there, cos that's where my parents are staying.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58Have you seen all the private sector provision that there is in the city?
0:43:58 > 0:44:01- I've seen the newest.- Sorry.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04- I've seen the newest.- Right. - It's very nice.
0:44:04 > 0:44:07It's got a flat screen telly in the room,
0:44:07 > 0:44:09it's got a refrigerator in the room,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12it's got Internet access...
0:44:12 > 0:44:15Me mother is 87, she's got dementia, she can't find the toilet,
0:44:15 > 0:44:18absolutely useless.
0:44:18 > 0:44:23Now, what I would suggest is that you put on hold making any decision
0:44:23 > 0:44:25and I'd like your reassurance of that.
0:44:25 > 0:44:26I would take...
0:44:26 > 0:44:29Because I don't think for one moment you're in any position,
0:44:29 > 0:44:32you haven't even met the basic requirements of consultation...
0:44:32 > 0:44:34We would argue that we have.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38Well, but I'm afraid you don't really know your job.
0:44:40 > 0:44:44You cannot possibly make a decision next week to close this facility.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47You must put that back and I want your confirmation that you will.
0:44:47 > 0:44:51And if you don't, then, we'll be applying for an injunction.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25It was time for Stoke's 60 councillors to show their hands.
0:45:26 > 0:45:31Today, they'd vote on a budget which would cut £36 million.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35If passed, 700 people would lose their jobs.
0:45:35 > 0:45:40To me, it is targeting the elderly, the disabled and the vulnerable.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42They've saved everything else,
0:45:42 > 0:45:45it's just one item on the budget, you can't vote on one item.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49I'm there for the people, Terry, I'm sorry.
0:45:49 > 0:45:50Sorry, thank you.
0:45:51 > 0:45:53Oh, sorry about that.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59As it stands at the moment, no.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02I will not be supporting it, no.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03Thank you.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07It was a take it or leave it vote,
0:46:07 > 0:46:11councillors couldn't pick and choose what they wanted to save.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14'You cannot just take one item out of the budget
0:46:14 > 0:46:16'and decide not to go for the old budget.'
0:46:16 > 0:46:19I mean, the last thing we want is not deciding on a budget
0:46:19 > 0:46:21and the government coming in and saying,
0:46:21 > 0:46:23"You're going to have this, this, this and that cut,"
0:46:23 > 0:46:27where this budget we've come up with today,
0:46:27 > 0:46:29every councillor has had an input
0:46:29 > 0:46:33regardless of whether they're a decision-making group or not,
0:46:33 > 0:46:36every councillor has been given an input into this budget.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41'Today's vote would also determine
0:46:41 > 0:46:42'the fate of Heathside House care home.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48'Even though he'd be voting to close the home in just a few hours,
0:46:48 > 0:46:50'the Leader had agreed to a last-minute visit.'
0:46:50 > 0:46:53Good morning.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55'By the time we'd arrived, the tour was over.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58'It had only taken a few minutes.'
0:46:58 > 0:47:01- So you've had a walk round of the facilities?- Yes.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03You haven't met any of the residents.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05No, I've been told they're having their breakfast
0:47:05 > 0:47:08and they don't normally allow visitors to disturb them
0:47:08 > 0:47:10whilst they're having their breakfast.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16OK. So, basically, what I've said,
0:47:16 > 0:47:20is that an email, which Viv hasn't seen yet, has been sent
0:47:20 > 0:47:24addressing the concerns that were raised to me by the families
0:47:24 > 0:47:27when we met with them in my office.
0:47:27 > 0:47:28And it's a comprehensive email
0:47:28 > 0:47:32saying what measures have been taken in terms of consultation
0:47:32 > 0:47:35and the support that's been provided up to date.
0:47:35 > 0:47:37And once you've considered this,
0:47:37 > 0:47:40if you think there's more that I can do to try and get other support,
0:47:40 > 0:47:45I will happily engage to make sure that those concerns are addressed.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48Everyone just seems hell-bent
0:47:48 > 0:47:51on putting all these patients into the private sector.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53It's not an easy situation, I'm not pretending to say
0:47:53 > 0:47:56that this is going to happen and this is going to happen so smoothly
0:47:56 > 0:47:58that there will be no impact,
0:47:58 > 0:48:00there will be impact and some severe impact.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02OK?
0:48:17 > 0:48:22Pervez, can I ask you, what was the purpose of this visit today?
0:48:22 > 0:48:24Because the councillors meet in, like, four or five hours.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27As you know, at the previous meeting
0:48:27 > 0:48:29that I had with the families of the residents here,
0:48:29 > 0:48:31they said, "Have you seen the facilities?"
0:48:31 > 0:48:33And I'd not been to see this facility
0:48:33 > 0:48:35and I said I will come and see the facility.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37I think the point that they might have been making is
0:48:37 > 0:48:41why was there no visit by a council representative weeks or months ago?
0:48:41 > 0:48:43Yeah, but there have been visits from...
0:48:43 > 0:48:46I mean, our officers are fully engaged in these care homes,
0:48:46 > 0:48:48they've been in dialogue with the staff,
0:48:48 > 0:48:50with the residents and with the families.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52But it's councillors that make the decision, isn't it?
0:48:52 > 0:48:54We make decisions and we know
0:48:54 > 0:48:56what the provision is, but we have adequate information to...
0:48:56 > 0:48:59The councillors don't have to visit every single facility
0:48:59 > 0:49:02that they are making decisions on, it's the information...
0:49:02 > 0:49:06And the previous cabinet member for this has been visiting places
0:49:06 > 0:49:10and, as I say, the strategic decision was made a couple of years ago
0:49:10 > 0:49:14and this is not any particular new decision,
0:49:14 > 0:49:16it's part of the same bigger agenda.
0:49:37 > 0:49:38What do you think of that meeting?
0:49:38 > 0:49:40He was here at twenty to nine, you know,
0:49:40 > 0:49:45and he's gone round like a whirl wind, just absolutely, you know.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48It doesn't mean anything to them, does it?
0:49:48 > 0:49:49I've got tears in my eyes,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52I said, "This is my dad, this is my parents."
0:49:52 > 0:49:53I said, "I want them to stay here."
0:49:53 > 0:49:56I said, "It might kill my dad if you move him from here."
0:49:56 > 0:49:57SHE SIGHS
0:49:57 > 0:50:01They're just not interested, they don't care.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03It isn't their families' lives they're playing with.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05If it was one of their parents,
0:50:05 > 0:50:07I bet it would be a totally different situation.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09But they don't...
0:50:09 > 0:50:12Are you going to pursue this legally?
0:50:12 > 0:50:15I certainly am, yeah, I would, of course.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18Regardless of today's decision, we're still going ahead.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21Whatever, we'll do whatever we can to try and keep this place open.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31..To the budget.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33And you need to say straight away,
0:50:33 > 0:50:35that's £33 million worth of proposals...
0:50:35 > 0:50:39- 1.5 as a result of what? Repro... - Reprofiling, reprogramming.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44Reprovision of care.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Elderly care.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53'We need to get a budget approved today by the politicians,
0:50:53 > 0:50:56'hopefully with a large majority.'
0:50:56 > 0:50:59A lot of people have been involved, many opportunities to challenge it,
0:50:59 > 0:51:01so you'd like to think it's a formality
0:51:01 > 0:51:02but, of course, this is politics.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04So it may not quite be a formality,
0:51:04 > 0:51:07we may have a few hoops to go through.
0:51:07 > 0:51:08With one eye on the election?
0:51:08 > 0:51:11Of course, of course.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16BELL TINKLING
0:51:18 > 0:51:21- What's the time now?- It's 2:30...
0:51:40 > 0:51:44Today, we will set the budget for Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
0:51:44 > 0:51:49We must set a balanced budget and a legal budget
0:51:49 > 0:51:52and we must manage the situation in hand,
0:51:52 > 0:51:59the cuts for Stoke-on-Trent are the largest in living memory.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03These are unprecedented times.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05The government have talked about fairness
0:52:05 > 0:52:10and everyone sharing the burden to help reduce the national deficit,
0:52:10 > 0:52:15but the reality is we have been hit very hard.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19When you have to make savings of £36 million,
0:52:19 > 0:52:22it is an impossible task to simply have no impact
0:52:22 > 0:52:25on frontline service delivery.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29Within this budget there are some very difficult decisions,
0:52:29 > 0:52:33no-one wants to close facilities and neither do I,
0:52:33 > 0:52:35but we are where we are.
0:52:35 > 0:52:40We have no choice, closing some facilities is inevitable.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45However, everything is not bad news.
0:52:45 > 0:52:49No children's centres will close under the current proposals,
0:52:49 > 0:52:53we have protected the most vulnerable in our communities.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57And where we have to take difficult decisions,
0:52:57 > 0:53:02we have been working hard to seek for alternatives.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04Lord Mayor, I move the motion
0:53:04 > 0:53:09as set out in this special agenda is approved.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14This budget has nothing to do with putting people first,
0:53:14 > 0:53:15it's about cuts...
0:53:15 > 0:53:17APPLAUSE
0:53:17 > 0:53:21..it's about cuts to ordinary working men and women in this city.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24I can remember some years ago that we said
0:53:24 > 0:53:28old people's homes would not close in this chamber
0:53:28 > 0:53:32and we've got two left and you want to shut them.
0:53:32 > 0:53:37You've talked about Heathside and Eardley House.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40Of all the concerns I've got in the budget,
0:53:40 > 0:53:44and I've got many concerns with most of it,
0:53:44 > 0:53:47I have most concerns with this,
0:53:47 > 0:53:50there's people in there with dementia.
0:53:50 > 0:53:54None of you can know what is going on in their minds
0:53:54 > 0:53:56when you change their locality.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59And don't forget members we all get old,
0:53:59 > 0:54:01but for the grace of God go I.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05If we put this through today, you should be ashamed of yourself
0:54:05 > 0:54:07and ashamed of this city council.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10APPLAUSE
0:54:10 > 0:54:12Let me just say, colleagues,
0:54:12 > 0:54:15if you don't want to come to a conclusion today,
0:54:15 > 0:54:18tell the Exec now and the City Secretary now
0:54:18 > 0:54:21so they can ring up Westminster
0:54:21 > 0:54:23and they can send in the heavy mob
0:54:23 > 0:54:25who'll make the decision for you,
0:54:25 > 0:54:28cos that's what's going to happen, I told you last time.
0:54:28 > 0:54:29SCREAMS
0:54:29 > 0:54:32Don't, don't want...
0:54:32 > 0:54:35Not having any points of order and I'm not the one shouting out.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38Please, can I say...
0:54:38 > 0:54:41The legal gentlemen there mentioned due regard...
0:54:41 > 0:54:45has not been exercised...
0:54:47 > 0:54:49Will the lady in the public gallery please sit down
0:54:49 > 0:54:54or you'll suffer the fate of the two guys that were over there?
0:54:54 > 0:54:56Is this democracy?
0:54:56 > 0:54:58I'll not tell you again, you'll go.
0:54:58 > 0:55:03OK, colleagues, take the lady out.
0:55:05 > 0:55:09There is an old saying, it's called TINA - there is no alternative.
0:55:09 > 0:55:11And some people argue there is,
0:55:11 > 0:55:14but nobody in this council chamber this afternoon,
0:55:14 > 0:55:16Lord Mayor, with respect,
0:55:16 > 0:55:18has come forward with any alternatives.
0:55:18 > 0:55:25We have got to find £120 million every day in interest repayments.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28This council has sat for just over three hours,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31that means that, while we've sat here talking,
0:55:31 > 0:55:34£15 million worth of interest charges
0:55:34 > 0:55:38has been racked up further for the tax payers of this country to find.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43Lord Mayor, given the extent of the challenge this council faces,
0:55:43 > 0:55:46I commend this budget to the council.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49APPLAUSE
0:55:49 > 0:55:54OK, colleagues, I'm going to move in a second for a named vote. OK.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59All in favour of the budget, please push yes.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04All voted?
0:56:04 > 0:56:07OK, what's the result?
0:56:10 > 0:56:1640 yes, 13 no, that's carried, thank you very much.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44'Here, Tunstall Pool, Shelton Pool and Fenton Library
0:56:44 > 0:56:47'all closed their doors for the final time today.
0:56:47 > 0:56:51'They're all being shut as part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's plans
0:56:51 > 0:56:54'to save £36 million.'
0:56:59 > 0:57:00I've been here 12 and a half years.
0:57:00 > 0:57:04Um, devastated, to be truthful.
0:57:04 > 0:57:09Yeah, I've lost me job, I'm very sad.
0:57:14 > 0:57:16How do you feel about locking up?
0:57:17 > 0:57:19Happy and sad.
0:57:21 > 0:57:23End of an era, if there is one.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27And...retirement for me.
0:57:29 > 0:57:30Excuse me...
0:57:30 > 0:57:33SHE CRIES
0:57:38 > 0:57:42In one afternoon, and with the press of a button,
0:57:42 > 0:57:44the fate of a city was sealed.
0:57:47 > 0:57:52The attention of the politicians would soon turn to other things.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55I'm Pervez, your local ward councillor,
0:57:55 > 0:57:58and I wondered if you've decided which way you'll vote
0:57:58 > 0:58:00- and whether I can count on your support for labour.- Not sure.
0:58:00 > 0:58:01You're not sure yet?
0:58:01 > 0:58:04I think it's due for change in this area.
0:58:04 > 0:58:06We've found three against in a row.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08Yeah, well, that one's against as well.
0:58:08 > 0:58:13- John, we're going out with you and me.- Where?
0:58:13 > 0:58:15I mean, what we're talking about
0:58:15 > 0:58:19is that some people could die, couldn't they,
0:58:19 > 0:58:21prematurely by being moved?
0:58:22 > 0:58:25- Oh, God!- Don't cry.
0:58:27 > 0:58:29Stoke-on-Trent is a city in serious trouble.
0:58:29 > 0:58:32ALL: Nazi scum out of Stoke!
0:58:32 > 0:58:36And we've proven that people will vote BNP
0:58:36 > 0:58:40in large numbers in this city when the conditions are right.
0:58:40 > 0:58:42ALL: Nazi scum out of Stoke!
0:59:07 > 0:59:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd