MP wades into debate

Mr Pickles has written to the council advising it of statutory guidance that says councils should not make ‘disproportionate’ cuts to the voluntary sector.

The Conservative led council cut its voluntary sector funding by 33 per cent last year, when the Government grant was cut by just 8 per cent.

This funding is crucial to local groups who offer vital services, often to the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Sandy Smith, CEO of Hope For The Homeless, said further cuts would be ‘devastating’ to its work.

“Our funding was reduced from £34,000 to £26,000 last year,” she said. “This year we have put in for a smaller amount because we know the pressure the council is under.”

“But it is imperative that we get that to provide our services. This is a housing, advice and debt service to keep people from losing their homes. We are going to end up like Victorian England before we know it.”

Geraldine Pearce, director of Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service, said funding reductions have meant voluntary and community organisations have not been able to meet increasing need.

The council’s Labour group has now asked the administration to ‘rethink’ the cuts.

Labour group leader Coun Alan Rhodes, said the voluntary and community sector plays a ‘vital role’ throughout the county.

“Our voluntary sector has always been diverse, providing vital and worthwhile services and support across our communities,” he said.

“The support the voluntary sector has given to individuals and groups and its contribution to communities and civil life in Nottinghamshire has been immense, invaluable and irreplaceable.”

“To make such disproportionate cuts was ill thought out. Once again the Conservative led Council has made a financial decision based on ideology and a lack of understanding that will have a long lasting negative impact on all of our communities.”

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said The Government had provided a ‘fair and progressive’ funding settlement for councils that protect front-line services and the most vulnerable.

He continued: “Councils have challenging decisions to make around how they prioritise spending but the Government is clear that councils must resist any temptation to pass on disproportionate savings to the voluntary sector.”

“In their approach to budget setting, the best councils are showing that they understand that a strong, thriving voluntary sector is more important now than ever and could be the key to providing high quality, good value services to their residents.”

“But this is not the case everywhere. Councils that are failing to recognise the importance of the sector are being short sighted in their approach.”

“We have been clear that local authorities should not ‘do the easy thing’ and cut funding to charities and voluntary groups because we believe they offer good value for money.”

But the county council maintains the reductions are proportional to its Government grant reduction, and is writing to Mr Pickles to tell him this.

Coun Martin Suthers, the council’s deputy leader, said: “We have had to make difficult decisions with our budget due to reduced Government grants and increasing demand for a number of critical services we carry out including adults and children’s social care.”

“We are planning no further reductions over the next two years and are introducing three-year grants where possible to give these organisations more stability,”

“We are working with local voluntary groups to help them make the most of their grants and find the necessary savings whilst protecting their frontline service.”

“The Council has also made it easier for groups to apply and use grant aid to allow them to get on with the job by cutting bureaucracy and red tape.”

“We have and are continuing to follow Government guidance by giving the sector three months notice prior to any grant changes.”