Cuts threat - Mayor asks Secretary of State for transfer of community group funding scheme

Diigo

In the face of major cuts threatened by London Councils (formerly the Association of London Government), Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has written to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to ask for the transfer of community groups funding to the Mayor's Office in order to protect future funding.

London Councils funds over four hundred voluntary and community groups across London, some of whom directly serve London’s black communities, including the Black Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration Network.

London Councils is considering changes to the grants scheme with no guarantees that the changes would not lead to cuts across London. Members of the grants committee recently proposed cuts of as much as one third. It has also agreed a list of areas of funding - many affecting services supporting children - that are 'not a priority'.

The Mayor’s letter to Ruth Kelly said, 'I have already guaranteed publicly that should the scheme be transferred I will not cut the overall budget, ending this atmosphere of instability and uncertainty for the voluntary and community sector and its beneficiaries.'

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said,

“Community and voluntary organisations play a vital role in supporting London’s black communities. They literally change lives through education, mentoring, support for families and help for some of the most vulnerable in the community.’

‘The cuts agenda that has emerged in recent weeks is a serious threat to the work of voluntary organisations and community groups and represents a major setback in work to reduce crime, unemployment and poverty.’

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone's letter to the Secretary of State says:

'I am deeply concerned about the future of grants in London following the recent decisions of the London Councils Grants Committee.

'In recent weeks, some members of the Grants Committee have openly advocated significant budget cuts and there is backing for plans to break up the London-wide nature of the Committee’s role by "repatriating" resources to the boroughs with no guarantees of ring fencing to the voluntary sector. Such plans would, by definition almost certainly mean that poorer areas lose vital funding and services.

'As you know, the grants function now carried out by the boroughs was originally with strategic-wide London government until the abolition of the Greater London Council. Grants are allocated on a strategic basis and any proposed cuts or change in priorities would have London-wide implications and is therefore a matter of considerable concern to my office.

'I would like to open discussions with you regarding the transfer of the grants scheme back to city-wide London government, to the office of the Mayor of London. I have already guaranteed publicly that should the scheme be transferred I will not cut the overall budget, ending this atmosphere of instability and uncertainty for the voluntary and community sector and its beneficiaries.'

Diigo