2010 Get the scissors out. Local councils will be cutting back on services in the New Year, as government grants for funding are slashed. Next year's budget settlement is savage, and more savage in some areas than others. The government insists that its cuts are fair, because the least well-off authorities will still have the highest grants. But what they're not trumpeting is that the highest grants are being cut the most. Hackney has the highest funding in the country, for example, but also the largest cut. Maintain this down-slicing for the next four years and the funding gap between rich and poor authorities will shrink - which isn't anywhere near as positive as it might first sound. What's being imposed here is a straightjacket designed to force councils to behave the way the government wants them to. Far from increasing "Localism", as Eric Pickles would spin it, this is Westminster's greatest interference in local politics for many years. It doesn't matter what colour council the local population voted in, they're still going to be forced to act like the truest bluest budget-cutters. And perversely it won't be spendthrift councils that'll be worst hit, because they'll find it easiest to trim some fat. The biggest victims will be areas who've already made cuts to save money, because they're going to have to cut deeper. Best get down to your local library while it's still open. And keep your fingers crossed that all the worst cuts will be to services you don't use, because they don't matter do they?
For Tower Hamlets, that's the equivalent of a one in eleven cut. Like so...
2011 Get the scisors out. Loca councils wil be cutting ack on servies in the New Ear, as goverment grants or funding ae slashed. Net year's budgt settlemen is savage, an more savage n some areas han others. Te governmen insists tha its cuts are air, because he least wel-off authoriies will stil have the hihest grants. Ut what they'e not trumpeing is that te highest grnts are bein cut the most. Ackney gets he highest fnding in the ountry, for eample, but alo the larges cut. Maintai this down-slcing for the ext four yeas and the funing gap betwen rich and por authorites will shrik - which isn't nywhere nea as positive s it might fist sound. Wha's being impoed here is a sraightjackt designed t force councls to behave he way the goernment wans them to. Far rom increasng "Localism", a Eric Pickle would spin i, this is Westinster's gretest interfrence in locl politics fr many years. T doesn't mater what color council th local popultion voted i, they're stil going to be frced to act lke the trues bluest budgt-cutters. An perversely t won't be spedthrift coucils that'll e worst hit, bcause they'l find it easist to trim soe fat. The bigest victims ill be areas ho've alread made cuts to ave money, beause they're oing to have o cut deeper. Est get down o your local lbrary while t's still ope. And keep you fingers crosed that all he worst cut will be to sevices you do't use, becaus they don't mater do they?
For Tower Hamlets, that's the equivalent of a one in six cut since 2010. Like so...
2012 Get th scissrs out. Ocal cuncil will b cuttig back n servces in he New Ear, as overnent grnts fo fundig are sashed. Ext yer's budet setlemen is savge, and ore saage in ome aras tha other. The goernmen insiss that ts cut are fir, becuse th least ell-of authoities ill stil have he higest grnts. Bu what tey're nt trumeting s that he higest grnts ar being ut the ost. Hacney ges the hghest undin in the ountr, for exmple, bt also he larest cu. Maintin thi down-sicing or the ext for year and th fundig gap btween ich an poor athoriies wil shrik - whic isn't aywher near a positve as i might irst sund. Wht's beig impoed her is a staightacket esignd to foce coucils t behav the wa the goernmet want them t. Far frm incrasing "Ocalim", as Erc Pickes woud spin t, this s Westinste's greaest inerfernce in ocal plitic for may year. It doen't mater wha colou councl the lcal poulatin vote in, the're stil goin to be frced t act lie the tuest buest bdget-ctters. Nd perersel it won' be spedthrit counils tht'll be orst ht, becase the'll fin it easest to rim soe fat. Te biggst vicims wil be aras who'e alredy mad cuts t save mney, beause tey're ging to ave to ut deeer. Bes get don to yor loca libray whil it's stll ope. And kep your inger crossd that ll the orst cts wil be to srvice you do't use, bcause hey do't mattr do thy?
