southwark council budget cuts

[sunbob]

Marmora Man wrote

Cuts to lollipop ladies and mobile libraries (tho' personally I'd cut fixed libraries and keep the mobiles) don't affect people's incomes.

They do affect the income of the people providing those services, who will now be either unemployed or on reduced hours/pay.

[OliviaDee]

to Marmora Man

poverty is not soley income related. when you cut resources to the less well off you incur poverty-induced exclusion from society and there is undeniable link between this and criminal behaviour.

[Ridgley]

Tell him OliviaDee

[James Barber]

Hi sheppdog,

Have a look at the council budgets and supplemental agendas. It is absolutely clear Labour have chosen ten of millions of avoidable cuts and the Finance Director who has a legal duty to only sign of workable budgets has agreed also with the Lib Dem and Tory alternatives that this CHOICE isn't necessary.

I really never thought I'd see the day Labour locally would produce a more right wing budget that local tories.

[Manda]

Thank you James,

Did anyone at the meeting ask why they are making such drastic cuts if it isn't necessary to do so?

[PeckhamRose]

And garages are going up by 50% to around ?18 a week.

[James Barber]

Hi Manda,

Several speechs about needing more reserves just in case future cuts happen after the three year central government settlement.

When the cross party delegation went to talk to Minister Grant Shapps the high level of unallocated and allocated reserves was brought up by the minister and the cross party delegation were told to use some of their reserves.

I guess the national Labour logic is that they believe excessive cuts have been made. They've said they think this will lead to a double dip recession. That if that did happen the central government might decide it needs to make further cuts.

A lot of other Labour councils have also cut in similar way to Southwark so perhaps they're getting central Labour advice about a double dip recession?

Sorry Manda I can't be more specific it was a very heated meeting. Really frustrating I caught the mayors eye was never called to speak.

[Marmora Man]

sunbob Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Marmora Man wrote

> Cuts to lollipop ladies and mobile libraries (tho'

> personally I'd cut fixed libraries and keep the

> mobiles) don't affect people's incomes.

>

> They do affect the income of the people providing

> those services, who will now be either unemployed

> or on reduced hours/pay.

Of course you're right, but Southwark Council is not a charity. It is not the role of local government to overspend it's budget in order to keep people in employment.