THE CHIEF executives of all the voluntary organisations in Thurrock have written an impassioned letter to the chief executive of Thurrock Council, Graham Farrant over the massive cuts that they may be subject to.
Here is the letter in full.
Dear Graham,
Thurrock Voluntary, Community & Faith Sector Joint Statement regarding Thurrock Councils Proposed Budget Cuts to the Sector
Whilst we understand council savings need to be made. It is with real anxiety and great concern that the proposed cuts clearly will have the biggest impact on the most vulnerable in our community and in some instances whole communities could suffer. 1Government cuts were never intended to impact on frontline services but to focus the mind on inefficient purchasing, staffing levels and improvements in delivery, ceasing delivery is not an improvement.
Thurrock’s Voluntary, Community & Faith Sector (VCFS) deplore Thurrock Council’s proposals to cut not only core and grant funding to the sector but also to bring to an end many of the service delivery contracts that the sector relies on to make them viable. The proposed removal of Thurrock CAB and TRANS-VOL’s grants have been the most publicised but these are only the tip of the iceberg, the total cuts to the VCFS in Thurrock could amount to over £1.9M. These are not £1.9M of free hand outs as some would have you believe but in many cases payments for undertaking work that support both Government and Thurrock Council strategies and policies.
The proposed cuts are likely to have a negative impact on Thurrock Council’s budget as many of the organisations who operate within Thurrock and who Thurrock Council refer people to, in some cases these VCFS organisations attract more than three times the funding awarded. If these organisations fold where will Thurrock Council find the additional resources from? We also believe that some of the proposed cuts are disproportionate and the Council may be failing under their duty as laid down in section 149 of the Equality Act.
Many of the people, signposted to these VCFS organisations by the Council and other agencies, are having difficulty in meeting their rent or council tax payments but with the help of these VCFS organisations they either receive advice on debt management, or information on benefits they are entitled to claim and are not claiming because they are unaware of them or are unable to complete the forms.
With the introduction of Universal Credit in the not too distant future, with all claims having to be done online, this situation will only worsen. The impact on Thurrock Council’s revenue collection department will be astronomical if large numbers of the most vulnerable in Thurrock have nowhere to go to get the help and advice they need to be able to cope with the new system. The stress of facing threatening letters from agencies and ultimately bailiff’s is also likely to have an effect on people’s health and wellbeing placing an even greater burden on local GP’s budgets.
The proposed cuts are across the whole range of VCFS services, not just those that help with benefits and legal advice but include children’s services at a Women’s Refuge who deliver an enormous saving to Thurrock Council. For example there are 29 children who have fled domestic abuse living technically homeless with them at any one time, on average for a year and sometimes longer. It is widely acknowledged that cases of domestic and sexual violence increase in times of hardship and local authorities have a duty to re-house victims. Yet Thurrock Council are proposing to cut funding to a local organisation that deliver this service at a saving to the council.
Internationally renowned charity South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC), who work to support child and adult victims of rape and child sexual abuse, is also facing cuts. Simultaneously more victims are reporting sexual abuse. What will happen to their clients, who will step in to give them the help and support they need when they are experiencing extreme distress? Or will they just be left to fall deeper into depression until it is too late?
We could continue listing organisation by organisation, explaining the added value the VCSF sector brings to the local economy and the wellbeing they bring to the community as a whole, but that is for a more in depth report. Suffice to say that on initial findings; we believe the sector gives a return of at least £3 for every £1 invested and locally contributes in excess of 100,000 volunteer hours per year. At a time when it is savings and efficiencies we are looking for, the VCFS which has consistently proven good service provision and better pound for pound value, should at least have its investment maintained. We should not make the mistake of scaling back.
The VCFS realise these are difficult times for local government but some will question whether these disproportionate cuts to Thurrock’s VCFS are more about using emotive cuts to services to make a political statement against Government policy in the run up to next year’s election, rather than sound financial management? If Thurrock Council wishes to make a concerted effort to reject the cuts imposed from central government, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. If however we are being used in a political campaign or as an easy way to make savings, the sector will have no alternative than to, for the first time in many years, unite to mobilise their clients and service users to show just the kind of impact the proposed cuts would have not only on the local economy but also the morale of Thurrock residents.
We the undersigned, whilst understanding the urgency of the matter, would ask Thurrock’s Councillors and Officers to step back and take a look at the wider implications before going ahead with the proposed cuts. The VCFS, through Thurrock CVS, are happy to provide any information required that may mean the decision to be taken is better informed.
