Saturday 20 October 2007

Recap of 2006/2007 Budget cuts in Camden

The councillors approved £23 million in budget cuts in 2007-8, with over £40 million in the next three years, affecting the following:

- 350 jobs slashed
- £3m cuts to children's services, including play scheme closures plus support to vulnerable children reduced
- £9.8m cuts to Housing and Adult Social care with 170 job losses
- 20% hike in community meals charges
- Cuts in Welfare Rights and Camden Language Services
- Cuts in funding to the voluntary sector
- Inflation-busting 5.3% rent rise for council tenants
- Major upheavals in hostels with 60 jobs to go in homelessness services
- end to door-to-door recycling schemes on council estates
- Enforcement initiatives in the planning department deleted.
- Slash street ‘gully cleansing’ team
- 3am street cleaning in entertainment hotspots such as Camden Town and Covent Garden cut.
- Reduction of posts in Youth Offending Team.
- Schools music service under review.
- Grants to voluntary services reduced by 12% in real terms over 3 years.
- Boulevard project scaled down.

The administration combined this with above inflation hikes in fees and charges:

- Meals on Wheels dinners for the elderly to rise by 50p each (or nearly £300 a year for a couple)
- Surviving play after school and holiday play schemes to be more expensive.
- Cemetery charges up.
- More expensive fees for pest control.
- Higher fees for hiring out the Camden Centre and other council buildings.

See press reports from the demonstration here:
http://libcom.org/news/town-hall-riot-over-cuts-camden-01032007

http://www.thecnj.com/camden/022207/news022207_01.html

Polly Toynbee: http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2037972,00.html

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