Revealed: Services facing axe

Published: 23 September, 2010
EXCLUSIVE by TOM FOOT

A DOOMSDAY list of cuts has been revealed confirming how the coalition ­government’s bid to reduce the nation’s budget deficit will affect every aspect of life in Camden.

The New Journal has obtained a leaked copy of the council’s financial report due to be published next month.

It details tens of millions of pounds of ­central government grant-funded projects in Camden expected to be dramatically hacked back in the Conservative and Lib Dem government’s spending review on October 20.

The Family Drug and Alcohol Court, Surestart childcare services and free music  are on the list of services targeted – the first clear indication of where the axe will fall.

Camden’s finance chief councillor Theo Blackwell said: “People need to get real. This is going to be really, really harsh. Basically, if a grant goes you can forget about the service – there is no way the council can step in.”

The Town Hall is expected to lose between 20 and 25 per cent of its total budget over the next three years. Cllr Blackwell said: “These are brutal cuts to the kind of things people think that councils do. But we could do those things because the government gave us money – it’s all about to change.”

Opposition councillors ­admitted “painful” cuts were inevitable and warned the Labour Party was in denial about leaving the country ­bankrupt.

Conservative leader Andrew Mennear accused Cllr Blackwell of “playing a dangerous game” and warned a resistance campaign was futile.

Among the services expected to be affected are:

• The Family Drug and ­Alcohol Court, which has helped break the cycle of ­children going into care since its three-year pilot began in 2007. It is one of the most ­high-profile services on the council’s at-risk register.
• Surestart childcare and welfare advice services – funded in Camden with a £9million annual grant from central government.
• The Kilburn Grange community centre is expected to lose half of its funding.
• Youth apprenticeships, adult learning courses, immigrant workers, health and Aids support groups, free swimming and music classes for children.

Cllr Blackwell added: “The large proportion of the council’s annual income comes specifically from government grants. People think council tax pays for everything – actually it is just 20 per cent. If government cuts those grants, as is ­suggested on October 20, this leaves a lot of risk. We can’t  fill that hole.”

Up to 65 per cent of funding for Camden schools and 72 per cent of the council’s Community Safety budget – used for working with drug addicts and the homeless – comes from government grants.

On Monday, chief executive Moira Gibb announced she  will not replace community safety assistant director Mark Benbow, who earns £85,000 a year, when his contract ends next month.

In a letter to councillors she wrote: “Within the current ­challenging financial context, the council is committed to reducing the cost of support services including cost of senior managers.”

The council has proposed sharing its chief executive with Islington in a bid to cut ­management costs in the Town Hall.

The extent of the cuts has reignited the pre-general election debate over whether such strict measures will plunge the country back into recession.

Deputy leader of Camden Liberal Democrats Cllr Matt Sanders said: “The public are not stupid – they understand that if you have big debts you have to start spending less money. 

“Labour want to make a lot of noise and stir up fear. Of course cuts are distressing, but there is huge anger at the position Labour left us in. 

“What makes me angry is that we are paying millions of pounds on servicing our debt – and we can’t spend on housing, schools.

“I want to get back into that position. There is going to be some pain in the short term. It is critical the council talks with residents to understand which services are absolutely crucial.”

Cllr Mennear added: “Yes it’s awfully difficult, no one disputes that. But as everyone knows the country can’t go on spending public money the way Gordon Brown was doing. 

“It’s much better and absolutely vital that savings are made to make sure in the future our children aren’t paying back what the Labour.

“Theo is playing a dangerous game by encouraging people to think that by being militant they can do something about it when that isn’t the case.”