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Zero council tax rise is bad news for some
• COUNCILLOR Paul Braithwaite celebrates the fact that the council tax is not rising (Letters April 5). This is not a cause for celebration for everybody.
The council is implementing cuts that will affect some of the most vulnerable groups in our communities.
There is to be an 18 per cent cut in funding for Advice Centres. The Welfare Rights Unit is to be cut – thereby weakening support for disabled people. The Building Stronger Communities Team is being slimmed down.
At a time when there is so much concern about crime on London streets, the Integrated Youth Project in Euston is losing funding. The funding of all community centres and other voluntary groups is being reviewed. There are many other similar cuts and reviews taking place.
Furthermore, there are some swingeing increases in business rates being imposed.
These are especially an attack on small local businesses and their customers.
Of course none of us want the council tax to be higher than necessary, and probably there might be fairer and more equitable ways of raising local tax that would not hit those on low incomes so badly, but local politicians like Cllr Braithwaite should at least have the courage and honesty, when congratulating themselves on a zero increase, to explain how this is being funded.
FR PAUL HAWKINS
Vicar of St Pancras
St Pancras Parish Church
Euston Road, NW1
• I WOULD like to refer to a letter from Lib Dem Councillor Paul Braithwaite
(Our tax freeze, April 5).
He states that Camden council tax has not risen this April.
If that is the case, why am I ordered to pay an increase? Mine certainly has not frozen. I would like to hear if other council tax payers have been ordered to pay more.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
• The Somers Town Community Association is a valued facility and Camden is working with it to look at other ways to fund its after-school project for 8 to 13-year olds.
While they were not successful in their application for Youth and Connexions funding this was not a ‘U-turn’ as described in last week’s letter from Somers Town Community Centre Chair Slaney Devlin (U-turn leaves children in the lurch).
Quite simply, their application did not meet the criteria for Youth and Connexions funding, which is set aside by the council to support projects for young people aged from 13 to 18.
When I became aware of this problem I encouraged this Association, through their ward councillor, to work with the Youth and Connexions Service to seek alternative funding streams.
We will be working with all current and former providers to ensure they are offered advice and support.
CLLR JOHN BYRANT
Executive Member for Children
Camden Council
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