Services under threat despite council tax rises.

News from Havering’s Labour Councillors.

Labour Councillors, as part of the Boroughs Joint Administration, spoke in favour of its proposed budget despite reservations over the £54m capitalisation/loan facility approved by Government Ministers and the necessity to cut services and increase charges.

Their concerns, directed at the Conservative Government, referring to a series of failures including year on year reductions of funding, unfunded statutory obligations placed on the Councils, and the complete failure to take into account increased demographic pressures such as the increase in population.

After 14 years of austerity, Tory self-inflicted economic harm and an unfair funding model, Havering has more statutory obligations to fulfil than money to provide those legally required services.

The Labour Group Councillors left those attending in no doubt of their commitment to deliver services for the most vulnerable and called on the Government to do its part to fund the services it demands Councils to deliver rather than place the obligation on Council Tax payers.

Havering Labour Leader Keith Darvill predicted an increase in the number of Councils seeking Government support will increase and similar measures are being taken up and down the country; “this is a problem created by Government, not by councils”

Gooshays Ward Councillor Kathy Tumilty took the opposition to task in the meeting over their scaremongering around Home to School Transport and the recent OFSTED report into Children’s Services, “I challenge any of you to find many OFSTED reports that would raise how finances were such a core issue… it’s rare and it shows how bad we have had it here”.

Following the meeting, Deputy Leader Mandy Anderson spoke on behalf of the Labour Group

“Havering, like the rest of the country, needs a Labour Government. We need a renewal of the social contract that the Tories have torn up over the last 14 years. We need the funding to be able to help vulnerable people reach their full potential, in stable homes, supported by a council that cares. Only the Labour Party has the moral mission and political ambition to change this Borough and this country for the better”

Footnote:  On Thursday 29^th February, Government announced emergency financial support for 19 Councils including Havering in the form of capitalisation/loans amounting to £2.6 Billion

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