Protesting at London Councils cuts

A bitterly cold day outside London Councils offices in Southwark, where we are protesting against planned funding cuts by London Councils. The proposed cuts will affect the salary of our second advice worker, Daniel Hadas. For the past two years we have received funding for this post via Advice UK and the BAN (Black Advice Network).

Council leader Mayor Bullock (Lewisham) came out to receive a petition signed by members of the network before the meeting of the Grants' committee.

But our protest fell on deaf ears.  Committee members recommended that the funding be frozen from June 2011. This is not the final axe: their decision goes before a Leaders' Meeting on 14 December 2010. But things look grim.  The London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC) has written a lively report:

“Sarbjit from Asian Women's Resource Centre organised the BAN demonstration yesterday, which massed about 100 people outside London Councils - it was a very moving display of solidarity ...The level of debate at the meeting was very poor indeed - some councillors obviously struggling understanding the process - there was no discussion of the service areas - no discussion of the needs of Londoners - very few questions - some disparaging remarks about the VCS were heard by observers.

Only 5 councillors spoke - Mayor Bullock (Lewisham), Cllr Carr (Bromley), Cllr Dombey (Sutton), Cllr Greening (Islington), Cllr Canver (Haringey) and Cllr McGlone (Lambeth). Cllr Dombey was the only member to speak up on behalf of the VCS and to attempt to slow down or criticise the process.”

Tim Brogden