People’s fund a one-off of just £1.44m

Published: 14 April, 2011

• IT is something of a relief to hear that the Labour administration has launched the Camden People’s Fund to mitigate the damaging cuts to services and the voluntary sector. 

The fund is expected to be one-off with £1.44million administered by officers. 

Many organisations which receive regular funding from Camden are looking at such funding falling off a cliff. 

Of those organisations many are unaware of the existence of this fund. 

It is important that all relevant organisations are considered for transitional funding so as to have time to adjust to the new and difficult funding environment. 

However, we must bear in mind that the most noticeable cuts to front-line services and to the voluntary sector come to approximately £3million. 

The fund only covers about half of this and only for one year. 

What will happen next financial year is anyone’s guess. 

If only the administration would accelerate the pace of delivering efficiencies and take up sensible ideas for generating revenue, Camden would be in a better position to provide much needed support to the voluntary sector and to maintain services, including libraries and sports centres.

CLLR DON WILLIAMS
Conservative,
Swiss Cottage ward