Holdcroft says “we are left with no choice” as Southend Council hit by £1.4 million cuts
Funding from central government will force Southend Borough Council to make a series of harsh cuts, Council leader Nigel Holdcroft (left) announced today.
The Coalition Government has withdrawn £1.4 million of capital and revenue grants to Southend Council, which will mean that a variety of grant-aided projects and services will face immediate funding cuts.
Some of the cuts have been made by central Government already, such as funding for free swimming, which will be withdrawn by Southend Council from the end of this month.
Over £1.27 million has been cut from the Council’s capital grants. This includes £660,000 already set out for an athletics track at Chase High School, which now cannot be built.
There will be further spending reductions from the Government after the Comprehensive Spending Review.
In the meantime, Southend Councillors will meet at full council on Thursday 15th July to set out where the cuts will be made.
Cllr Nigel Holdcroft said: “We are fully aware that these cuts will have a real effect on
people across Southend, but we have been left with no choice.
“In-year cuts are always the most difficult to manage because plans have already been made against an expected level of income.
“This is a particularly challenging time for the Council, which has been working extremely hard to minimise the impact on frontline services.
“The pre-budget statement in the autumn will give us a clearer indication of what we can expect over the coming years.
“But we already know we face extremely difficult decisions in the future given the Coalition’s announcement about cuts of up to 40 per cent in public sector spending.”
Labour councillor Ian Gilbert told Councilbust.com today: “Forcing the council to make in-year savings means the process of making cutbacks is chaotic and destructive.
“We still can’t be sure exactly what the end results of this process will be, but it is extremely disturbing that the burden of cuts may well be falling most heavily on the services we provide for children and young people, including perhaps some particularly vulnerable groups.
“It’s worth noting that before the election, Conservatives said that deficit reduction could be achieved by cutting waste, and the Lib Dems said they would not support any cuts in public spending this year.
“To argue that things have materially changed since they made those promises would be deeply disingenuous.
“As well as the services which are to be cut, there is an overarching concern that the council cuts alone are taking over £1 million out of the local economy.
“Taken together with the other cuts, up and down the country, there is a real risk that this could tip the country back into recession.”
I’m sure the ongoing digging up of trees and roundabouts will be unaffected by this news…. useless bunch
“We are left with no choice”
Really?
On Febuary 14th 2005, the Tory Cabinet, so distressed by the Labour government proposed cuts that seemed to threaten community facilities, it organised protest coaches to London.
The great and good lead by the Tory Mayor and Tory MP’s marched to Downing Street and handed in petitions to the then Prime Minister
So why not now? Is there really nothing you can do Cllr Holdcroft?
In 2005,the Tory administration demonstrated by this single action that it is able to articulate its concerns, so why not now?
The Tory administration surely should repeat this demonstration against the spending cuts, especially as it appears that the children and most vunerable in Southend will be grossly effected by these Coalition cuts?
If not what is it that stops you?
Is it that your previous protest had strong biase that was anti-Labour government rather than genuine concern for the community that you represent?
If not book that coach, stand up for the people of Southend, after all you now have the Liberal Democrates to make up the numbers.
Having read the comment above by Judy McMahon, I and I’m sure many other residents of Southend will be waiting to see what action you do take Cllr Holdcroft to fight against the cuts to our much needed services. After all David Cameron has just given ‘the power back to the people’ hasn’t he? in this new ‘big society’ of his!. Please don’t assume that the public have any sympathy Cllr Holdcroft because at the end of the day as Ms McMahon has quite rightly pointed out- THERE IS ALWAYS A CHOICE-it just depends on how far your conscience will take you.
Cllr Holdcroft claims he has no choice with regards to cuts, however, the Conservative group on the council had no problem choosing to vote against a proposal by Labour’s Cllr Stephen George to block the increase of councillor’s allowances by £100 each last night.
It’s a small amount in relation to the wider cuts, but it demonstrates the kind of choices that Cllr Holdcroft and his fellow Conservatives are prepared to make.
As mentioned above, the conservatives in Southend council have voted to increase their allowances by £100 last night,which may not sound much but this vote took place at the same time as the agreements were being made to axe the following in Southend: Positive activities for Young people budget, help for children in care, Connexions, children’s mental health services and the Youth opportunity fund. I find it absolutely incredible that this Tory led council can dismiss our children in such a way whilst giving themselves a pay-rise. I wonder how Cllr’s Blaine and Burdett feel about their pay rise? as they’ve just been trying to promote themselves in my area of the Kursaal ward as advocates of young people! ??
Tomorrow the new Shoeburyness youth centre will be opened -the £3million pound venue was paid for by LABOUR’S MYPLACE Scheme and I’m saddened to hear that some individuals are trying to say it was lottery money that paid for it-it wasn’t!