Cuts axe falls on hanging baskets and 60 jobs, but free school meals stay

Published: 23 July, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

“OUR hands are tied,” warned new Labour council leader Councillor Catherine West on Tuesday as she began a briefing on the effects of government-imposed £7million cuts.

The axe will fall on hanging baskets, improvements to Highbury Fields, plans for a new Highbury Corner gyratory, 60 council posts and funding for youth advice centres.

At the same time, the cost of all council services – from weddings to death certificates, parking to car towing – will rise by at least 10 per cent.

For this year alone, Islington Council must save £7million, with the figure rising to £70million over the next four years.

But under the budget expected to be approved next Tuesday, free school meals for all primary pupils will still be funded, £230,000 will go into a fund for children in care, £1million to fix potholes and £100,000 to help youth centres apply for grants. Cash has been set aside for Cllr West’s personal election promise – a citizens’ advice bureau (CAB).

The council will subsidise swimming for young people and pensioners at £1 a dip after an earlier free scheme fell victim to the government cull.

The chief executive’s salary is to be cut by £45,000, from £225,000, and a recruitment freeze is already in place at the Town Hall.

This year, 11 council posts will go, as well as another 49 at Cambridge Education (CE), the private company, which runs the borough’s schools.

Cllr West also revealed a long-term plan to squeeze out CE and bring the education department back in-house.

Opposition Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “They are putting money into a CAB but wiping out youth and advice services. They are going to devastate them.”