NOW we know that Thurrock Council communities boss, cllr Richard Speight was quite a footballer at Cambridge University but he has just shown he can still swerve and dribble like Lionel Messi when it comes to the subject of funding cuts in Thurrock.
As reported yesterday (July 24th), Thurrock Council has identified organisations such as Transvol and the Citizens Advice Bureau as part of their funding cuts.
Conservative politicians such as cllr Ben Maney (as well as MP Jackie Doyle Price) has suggested that they look at organisations such as anti-racism org. Trust as well as community engagement organisation, Ngage.
Cllr Speight has gone on the record to set the record straight regarding the cuts.
Cllr Speight said: “Cllr Maney needs to get his facts straight. Funding levels to both TRUST or NGage are determined by the CVS – a decision that allows voluntary grants to be determined by the voluntary sector and one that enjoyed cross-party support. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau stands outside this arrangement for historic reasons.
“This isn’t a case of singling out organisations, this is going to be an incredibly difficult time for all voluntary organisations in Thurrock. We are trying, as we have been trying for the last four years, to make the cuts handed to us by the Tory government in the fairest way possible.
“These comments by Cllr Maney once again show a staggering lack of awareness in the Conservative group about the scale of cuts we have to make. £37 million of cuts in the next three years will strip this council to the bone. Aside from political posturing, they have no answers and no credibility on how they would save this money.”
It has been reported that Labour accepted at their little get together at the weekend that so called austerity measures will continue under a future Labour government until such time as the deficit is sorted out. Granted that may just be spin but, I’m sorry councillor, you can blame the Tories as much as you like, the country still hasn’t forgotten where the real blame lies.
Still can’t explain where the tens of millions of pounds worth of cuts the glorious leader says you’ve already made have fallen can you. You’re doing the normal. Pick on the worst off for maximum effect. If you;’re still there next year councillor, it’s going to bite you extremely hard in the backside. The whole of Thurrock know how you and your party feel about TRUST and Engage.
Could the Councillor also explain why the Labour party’s full throated approval and backing of this group over the last few years now seems to be an embarrassement to the Labour party. Did the CSV agree to give premises in the Thameside theatre to TRUST for virtually nothing in previous years. Your other leg is ringing Councillor.
Sorry CVS for those that pick up on these things.
Cuts are fairly easy to see. Parks and road verges remain unkept in comparison with previous years, potholes and cracks in the roads remain unfilled the country over. Clearly if councils cannot afford the upkeep then all our roads and amenity infrastructure deteriorates. I think any money spent on ngage is money well spent as they educate and empower many in our communities. Trust have had a very good run and still may have a future but maybe we just need that money now for flagging frontline services. However I am concerned that funding for local charitable service providers is threatened. If we lose these agencies, it may ultimately end up costing us more. Tough one!