Councillors have warned against potential cuts to a service which helps Lincolnshire people curb unhealthy habits.
The One You Lincolnshire contract supports those who smoke, drink too much, are overweight or don’t exercise enough, and is due to finish at the end of September.
Lincolnshire County Council is proposing a 12-month extension while the public are asked if they think money should be spent elsewhere.
Opposition politicians say the sudden change has been rushed through, and claim a reduction in services would “cut the lives of Lincolnshire population shorter.”
It currently offers support such as 12 weeks’ free membership to Slimming World, schemes to help people quit smoking, including providing medication after smokers have suffered a cardiac arrest, and services for those who have suffered a fall.
Labour leader Coun Karen Lee, who worked as a cardiac nurse for over 20 years, said: “Health prevention is money well spent.
“I understand councils are under financial pressures. But if cuts have to be made, don’t make them here – it’s the wrong place.
“Cutting money from this will cut the lives of the Lincolnshire population shorter. It won’t be cost effective in the long run.”
Coun Lee also questioned why county councillors couldn’t scrutinise the decision.
The government provides ring-fenced funding to promote health and wellbeing, although it is up to councils how they spend it.
A county council report says one option is a greater focus on children and young people’s health.
The current service was recently praised as a ‘Lincolnshire success story’, saving £4 in medical treatment for every £1 spent.
The meeting was told that the previous Conservative administration had ordered the service had been extended but that had been put on hold following this year’s election.
Some Reform councillors backed a change in how the service operated.
Following the meeting Coun Steve Clegg said: “We’re not rushing things. We’ve extended the current contract for 12 months to give us time for a full consultation process and scrutinise what comes back.
“This money is ring-fenced – it can’t be spent on buses or potholes, it has to be spent on public health. What we’re trying to do is spend it as cost-effectively as possible.
“I totally refute the idea there will be cuts – this is scaremongering.
“We are making sure we get a broad range of views from the public to find out their needs and how the service is currently being used.
“It’s not about cost cutting, it’s about delivering the best value for money.”
