Leader fights for residents in showdown with government cuts
Published 20 January 2011
Southwark's leader Cllr Peter John met with Grant Shapps MP, the Minister of State for Communities and Local Government to press the case for local residents who are among the worst off in London.
Southwark has to make more than £50m of savings over two years after funding cuts made it London's worst hit council in cash terms. Its cabinet is due to meet next week (25 Jan) to consider the budget savings proposals.
Cllr John said: "Despite the very real issues of social deprivation we're trying to address, we have been hit particularly hard by the Government's funding settlement. We are on the grant floor, so have not even qualified for transitional relief afforded to some other equally deprived areas, which would have at least offered some crumbs of comfort.
"We have raised our case at the highest levels of Government as it is clearly unfair to Southwark and its residents that we are forced to bear such a high cost.
"Of course we want people to volunteer and get more involved locally, but the most deprived areas need extra help and support if those communities are to have the same life chances and opportunities more affluent areas take for granted.
"We're doing all we can to protect frontline services, but the severity of what we're facing cannot be underestimated, as the cabinet report makes very clear.
"We are fighting on behalf of our residents and appealing to the Government to at least offer us some of the same assistance afforded to other areas with similar challenges and needs as our own."
Cabinet member for resources Cllr Richard Livingstone accompanied the leader at the meeting, which was also attended by Cllr Tim McNally, opposition spokesperson for resources, as well as the boroughs three MPs Simon Hughes, Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell.
