Lib Dems propose action to save Voluntary Sector

The Voluntary Sector in Swindon should not be taunted annually with threats of funding cuts by Conservatives at the Council say Liberal Democrats. Instead the council should place the funding with an external agency and put a stop to political interference.

In a meeting of Councillors earlier this month the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Walcot by-election suggested placing the annual £1.1million grant to the voluntary sector into the hands of an external agency to distribute.

Liberal Democrat Nicky Sewell says:

"It is wrong that the Conservatives are proposing for the fourth year in a row to cut the grants to the voluntary sector in Swindon. This is political meddling in its worse form.

"We should all be aware that the £252,000 cut to the voluntary sector grant equals £3.77 for each household's Council Tax bill this year - that's the same price as a bargain pizza in Asda.

"If the grant was distributed by an external agency to the voluntary sector in Swindon, then the grubby fingers of some councillors would not be able to interfere with our town's voluntary sector."

Conservatives at Swindon Borough Council have proposed cuts to the voluntary sector over each of the past four years. But each year their plans have failed as they have not had a majority of councillors to introduce their service cuts. In June of last year the Tories won a majority at the election, so this year their plans will most probably be passed.

This chart illustrates Tory cuts to the voluntary sector over recent years:

2002/ 03 Conservative group proposed a cut of £103,000. This was defeated by a Labour budget at Full Council.

2003/ 04 Conservative group proposed a cut of £250,000. This again was defeated by a Labour budget at Full Council

2004/ 05 Conservative group proposed a cut of £500,000. This was defeated by a joint Labour and Liberal Democrat budget.

2005/ 06 Conservative group propose a cut of £252,000 to the voluntary sector grant. Budget meeting is 21st February

Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Chris Shepherd says:

"We do not share the Tory view that a 23% reduction in the grants budget this year is the right thing to do. At the Full Council meeting next week my Group will be proposing we transfer an inflation proofed £1.1million grant to a third party charity within the town to distribute the grants on our behalf.

"The council has a policy on grant allocation to the voluntary sector, so nobody has to re-invent the criteria. Our proposal will simply remove political interference of maverick councillors hell bent on flexing their muscles over their agenda of cuts.

"It's a very sad day for the Council to even be consulting on reducing the grant to the voluntary sector. I hope that Conservative councillors will take a deep breath and re-consider their proposals."

The Councils Corporate Plan for making the Borough a 'learning and creative place' states:

The Borough of Swindon has one of the most extensive voluntary and community sectors in the country, with which the Council works in partnership to provide and support a great range of activities

Cllr Shepherd concluded:

"Tory action to bring about cuts in the voluntary sector will lead to less enthusiasm for the Council and a mood of despair for all who work within the voluntary sector."

The motion proposed by Liberal Democrats reads:

-This council notes the Conservative Cabinet's budget consultation on reducing the £1.1 million grant allocation to the voluntary sector in Swindon by £252,000.

-Council also notes that this proposed 23% reduction in funding this year is similar to budget proposals by the Conservative Group over the past four years.

-The voluntary sector should not have to tolerate continued annual attacks on their existence and calls for a moratorium of cuts for the Financial Year 2005/06. The Council should allocate a three-year inflation proofed £1.1 million grant

-Council appoints a working group of councillors and officers to consider contracting out the grant allocation process to a third party within the borough who would administer grant allocation on behalf of the Borough, working to criteria set down in the Grant Aid Funding Priorities document approved by Cabinet on the 10th November 2004.

Related Links

• Conservtives at Council reject this proposal to save the voluntary sector