Tories to cut Redbridge's Voluntary groups funding

Conservative controlled Redbridge Council have agreed to cut £32,000 to voluntary services. Labour opposition Councillors fought to have this thrown out.

Labour Cllr Julia Hughes said that the increase last year in the criteria for social care meant that more people now needed help from voluntary groups, and that there was no indication where the new cut would fall. She said, "Will it be the faith groups, the elderly, children and adults with disabilities, the mentally ill? I'm concerned about how transparent that choice will be."

Conservative Cabinet member John Fairley Churchill defended his decision "Some of the groups in this borough thought it was their God-given right to be funded each year." He went on "The idea of voluntary sector organisations in splendid isolation harks back to the days of gentility when my grandmother was a girl. We want to encourage cross-borough working."

Labour believes in voluntary groups. We think they create a cohesive community. Not only do the recipients of voluntary groups benefit, but also the volunteers themselves; they become involved in a local community and feel empowered. There are many areas that the state are not involved in or are "unsexy", these are the vital areas that voluntary groups often work in.

Savings could have been found, for example:-

- NOT wasting your council tax on Redbridge-i website

- NOT wasting 110k of your council tax on 2 flash Jaguar limos

- NOT wasting your council tax on Redbridge Life

- BY cutting Cabinet Cllrs allowances / salaries

WE SAY: This story is linked to the continued Tory mis-management of this borough - from allotment sales, car parks, elderly centres, pay and display parking, internal rifts between Tory Cllrs who want to do the right thing etc.

Latest Labour Newsletter

The latest Chadwell Labour newsletters are now being delivered, look out for your copy! The delivery of these newsletters would not be possible without the kind assistance of our ever growing team of local volunteers. If you would like to get involved, please email or call us. Working together we can create a better Chadwell.

PM and Ruth Kelly confirm Crossrail go-ahead

Mike Gapes MP Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtGhvaNzvg

United against Graffiti / Flytipping

Your Labour team have been continuing the fight against graffiti and flytipping which has been appearing in Chadwell. Graffiti is a cancer that plagues our society. By working together and sharing intelligence we can reduce it and catch the perpertrators. Please continue to let us know about areas which are causing concern. Recently Wilson and his daughter gave up some of their weekend to paint over a telecoms box next to the Harvester that had been blighted by graffiti! He has some paint left, so please let us know if you would like to get 'hands on'. If not, the Council are rightly the main people who should be removing this. The contact is Russell Ward e: russell.ward@redbridge.gov.uk or via the Redbridge switchboard 020 8708 5000

Regional Planning Committee (South)

The next RPC (South) will be held on 5th March at 7.15pm, Highburys Gardens Primary School, Highburys Gardens, Ilford. This is the road just off the Drive and is accessed by Cranbrook Road. The agenda for this meeting is available at :-http://moderngov.redbridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=508&MId=4132&Ver=4

'One' Railway: Station action promised

With a commitment to getting action to improve Chadwell Heath Train Station, Wilson Chowdhry and Cllr Balvinder Saund organised for the Manager of 'One' Railway to inspect Chadwell Heath Station. Following on from this meeting, ‘One’ have promised the following action points: -

- The ticket office will be closed from 19:40 - 06:10; with the only access to the station being the side alleyway between these hours. This will ensure the ticket hall is kept safe and secure

- Station soft refurbishment will be implemented asap and will last two weeks (this will include brick work / paint / wood varnishing etc)

- Ash trays for the front of 'One' rail stations will be rolled out over the next two weeks

- Security agents for the stations requested - this requirement will be assessed against data around incidents [if residents have any information on incidents they are requested to let us know].

- Wire mesh under the stairs to prevent access

- Covered heated seating area to be looked at by ‘One’

Labour will continue to monitor the station and ensure that the hard working community of Chadwell get a decent train station for there money. NOTE: Cllr Balvinder Saund is the Labour candidate for Redbridge and Havering in the forthcoming GLA elections, her election will ensure that Labour can tackle the real issues that matter to you.