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Published: 17th February, 2011
by TOM FOOT

A COMMUNITY centre praised during a personal visit from the Prime Minister’s wife is set to be decimated by biting public spending cuts.

Samantha Cameron made a YouTube video (see below) about the Surma Centre in Regent’s Park after visiting it and posing for photographs as she served curry to the elderly, just weeks before last year’s general election.

She congratulated members of the Bengali Workers’ Association (BWA), which runs the centre, speaking of a “fantastic place” playing “a major part in social cohesion” and a “perfect example” of the Big Society in motion.

Yet less than 12 months later, the centre now looks set to be a major casualty in the cuts programme sweeping across Camden. And Labour councillors are blaming Mrs Cameron’s husband.

They say they have no choice but to cut back funding because reduced investment in local authorities from the coalition government has left the Town Hall with a £100million black hole.

The Surma Centre runs a lunch club, day care  for  elderly  Asian  people  and health advice groups – all of which are now under threat.

On her “Web Sam Cam” blog last year, which can still be seen online, Mrs Cameron is on film telling members: “His [David Cameron’s] whole manifesto is very much about society and social action. Social action is absolutely at the heart of the Conservative campaign, it’s about local communities getting involved, coming  together. I think the Surma Centre is a perfect example of that.”

Its possible closure is now being held up by the government’s critics as an example of how David Cameron’s Big Society idea of voluntary groups and community teamwork could misfire without more cash from Whitehall.

From April 2012, the Surma’s annual funding of £125,000 is being withdrawn, effectively ending its ability to carry out some its most valued  services.

On Tuesday, Camden Council leader Nasim Ali told a meeting of around 150 members of the BWA, which founded the centre in Robert Street, to take their fight to Mrs Cameron.

He said: “Samantha Cameron came and cooked here for votes. Where is she now? If you want to lobby, lobby Sam Cam.”

In response, the Conservative Party went on the offensive with a statement.

A spokesman for Mrs Cameron said: “It is extraordinary that Camden can’t find the money to keep this centre open. This is a decision taken by a Labour-run council that has spent more than £3million on publicity in 12 months, lavishes its chief executive with a £230,000 pay packet and is led by Councillor Nasim Ali, who has been able to claim the best part of £100,000 in perks over just four years. 

“Councillor Ali’s allowances since 2007 alone would keep the centre open for eight months. The closure appears to be nothing more than a cynical move by another Labour council determined to play politics with people’s lives. They should rethink their decision.”

Recent records show that Camden’s chief executive Moira Gibb is paid £200,000 a year plus bonuses.

At Tuesday’s meeting, BWA members called on Cllr Ali to rethink his plan to axe funding for the centre warning that “people will be left to die at home”.

BWA older people’s project manager Jilani Chowdhury told the New Journal: “Our people are angry at Samantha Cameron because now the Conservatives are in power. They are very worried at that. But they are also angry at the council. Because this is a unique project. It is the only project in Camden for south Asian people. 

“It is the council’s decision and they have to find a way of making it work. Cutting 100 per cent of budget, sometimes I think this council is Conservative. Nash came here after he became leader and told us that funding would not reduce – now it is being chopped completely.”

But Cllr Ali said: “We didn’t know the extent of the settlement then. People don’t need to tell me what the impact is going to be. 

“I remember coming here as a boy when I  was growing up in Silverdale. Coming here is like coming home. I wouldn’t have got into politics if it hadn’t been for the Surma Centre. But when you are leader of the council you represent the whole community.”

He gave a 15-minute presentation to members in Bengali, punctuated with the odd English phrase such as “big society”, “budget reduction”, “multi-culturalism” and “bottom line”.

The presentation confirmed that “all non-essential repairs and decorations” to council properties would end, youth centres would close and the Meals on Wheels service – providing hot food daily to the housebound – was expected to be reduced to once a week deliveries.

Cllr Ali’s added that, despite drastic cuts, Camden residents would “retain access to open spaces” and “children will still learn to their full potential”.

Fantastic! Sam Cam’s video verdict on the Surma Centre

SAMANTHA Cameron turned up an hour late to the Surma Centre, ladled out some curry cooked by somebody else and then tucked into lunch. A few pictures with the crowd and then she was off – off to make a film about her lovely afternoon. 

Bolshy press officers insisted her date with George Lee, the Holborn and St Pancras Tory candidate, that afternoon was not a campaign event. 

Like her husband’s visit to the People’s Supermarket this week, no questions from the New Journal were permitted. Why ever not?

Instead, she saved her comments for her video diary, which presumably were considered part of the campaign... given they were full of praise for David Cameron’s Big Society ideas.

From the family kitchen table, she explained how “the Surma centre is fantastic, what they are fantastic at is getting the elderly out of their homes and into the community centre to socialise. Most of the people I spoke to said they would be lost without the centre which helps over 7,000 people every year. Meeting everyone at the lunch club today brought it home to me how important social action projects are for our ageing population.”

But will she keep her promise, made to camera, to come back for another curry? 

Regulars are worried she might not have much time left for her return.
RICHARD OSLEY