The Kilburn Rose

Brent Council’s Lib Dem Con administration has started making cuts in
services, just as Labour warned they would. This is despite a golden
inheritance of nearly £10 million in reserves.

The Executive met on 13 September to agree a package of cuts and
increases in charges including reducing care services to the
disabled, increasing charges for day care, increasing rents for
temporary accommodation and swingeing increases of up to 25% for car
parking. At the same time, the proposal to give the first residents’
parking permit (in Controlled Parking Zones) for free – a key Liberal
Democrat and Conservative election pledge - has been deferred. They
were going to increase the 2nd and 3rd family permits by £25 until
they realised that this would neutralise the value of giving the
first permit free!

The Executive also agreed to privatise the Meals on Wheels service
and place more mentally ill patients in Brent homes whilst reducing
support for them.

In addition to the cuts agreed by the Executive, council departments
have been instructed to find further cuts of 5% across the board, so
we can expect even deeper cuts and increases in charges before long.

Labour’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Jim Moher, said: "This is just the
beginning. The new Lib Dem Con administration have started as they
mean to go on cutting services to the most vulnerable sections of
society, increasing charges and bashing the motorist with huge
increases in parking charges. The policies being pursued are very
similar to those pursued by the Tories from 1991-1996, which led to
the scandals of children being taught in corridors, children abused
through the under funding of the child protection service and the
needs of the elderly and disabled sorely neglected. There is no doubt
that it is the Tories who are the dominant partner in this ‘joint
administration’. Vote Lib Dem get Con(ned)."

# posted by Kilburn Labour Party : 9:43 AM