CONCERN over a possible £960,000 cut to Stockton's public health budgets will be debated at a powerful council committee next week.

Members of the cabinet at Stockton Borough Council will consider the Government's plan to cut council public health budgets by £200m.

For Stockton that could leave the council with £960,000 less to spend on public health this financial year and every year thereafter.

As has been widely reported, men in central Stockton die on average 16.4 years earlier than in nearby Eaglescliffe, the widest gap in the country.

Cabinet member of Adult Services and Health, Cllr Jim Beall, added: “Our council ensures there is a wide range of high quality services available for all aspects of improving public health, from new services for weight management to well-established smoking cessation services, drug and alcohol treatment services and sexual health services. Recently we have started a new universal scheme to provide toothbrushes and toothpaste to all children in nursery and reception to help address the very poor levels of dental health in children.

“This funding reduction contradicts the pledge from the NHS to focus more on prevention. I fear it will have an adverse impact on local services and add further pressure on our local hospital so I will be recommending to Cabinet that Stockton Borough Council actively participates in the Government’s consultation and seeks support from both local MPs to try and minimise the impact of this cut in Government funding on the people of the Borough.”

The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 25 at 4.30pm in Stockton Central Library.