Member News
Labour councils are making "disproportionate" cuts to voluntary groups and charities, the Commons has heard.
Communities minister Greg Clark said that Labour councils had been "taking their cuts out on the voluntary sector", and called on the shadow frontbench to criticise their actions.
During departmental questions in the Commons, shadow communities secretary Caroline Flint called on the minister to outline how many jobs would be lost as a result of coalition cuts to the voluntary sector.
Flint criticised the coalition government's "front-loaded cuts" to local councils.
She said: We all know that local councils are the largest provider of public funding to the voluntary sector - something that has grown over the last 10 years, particularly the partnerships that operate so successfully up and down the country.
"What is your department's estimate of the number of jobs that would be lost in the voluntary sector as a result of the front-loaded cuts imposed on councils?"
In response, Clark said: "Can I welcome you to this debate. I thought that your silence on matters concerning the voluntary sector might be terminal.
"We have been very clear on this side of the House that councils should not cut disproportionately.
"You have been absolutely silent, as have your front bench colleagues, on Labour councils who are taking their cuts out on the voluntary sector."
The shadow communities secretary referred to the 88 senior LibDem councilors that had raised their concerns over the pace of spending cuts and claimed some Tory councilors had also expressed concerns.
Flint said Labour had always labour always celebrated the partnership between councils and voluntary groups.
She stressed: "Under a Labour administration, we saw those partnerships grow, we saw local voluntary groups taking over some of the services that councils had traditionally run."
The minister said he wished Flint had been "more vocal" in what she says to the Labour councils that are making "disproportionate cuts around the country".
He added: "Because the fact is that through the policies of the last government, they're having to make these cuts because they left a legacy that was completely unsustainable, when we're spending on interest in debt almost twice what the council tax raises."
Clark had responded to a question from Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) on what assessment had been made of the likely effects on the community and voluntary sector of reductions in levels of government funding for local authorities.
Whitehead expressed concern that his council would see cuts of up to 20 per cent that would affect the citizen's advice bureau and the voluntary services.
Clark replied that it is clear that councils should not make cuts disproportionately.
In other exchanges, Labour MP Heidi Alexander asked what government assessment had been made of the likely change in the provision of services by local authorities as a result of reductions in levels of government funding for local authorities.
Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles claimed Labour run councils had cut frontline services as a first option in a bid to claim cost reductions.
Alexander said that within weeks of the coalition coming to power, Lewisham Council in south east London had seen £0.5m cut from its budget.
Pickles told the Lewisham MP that her local authority had £58m in reserves.
He told MPs: "It is about time ladies and gentlemen opposite woke up, accepted their responsibility for the financial state of the nation and it is their councils that are cutting back greater than Conservative councils."
And in a further attack, he said Liberal Democrat and Conservative authorities "are protecting the front line" but "if they are Labour, the front line is the first one to go".
Article Comments
The amount of cuts being made by Labour councils are disproportionate. I suppose we have to recognise that councillors are not accountanta so what on earth could they know about finance. If we look at councils generally they consist of bored housewives with nothing better to do, posties etc. rarely is a great brain found to be sitting on councils so I suppose we have to put up with them muddling around and have the courage at the next council elections to stand up and be counted. Only the intelligensia should apply.
Gerald Phillips
28th Feb 2011 at 7:29 pm
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.