Camden New Journal - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS Published: 5 July 2007
Volunteer funding cuts may be probed
SPENDING cuts that have forced volunteer groups to close could be probed in a council investigation. Backbench councillors have been asked to re-examine how Camden came to axe £1 million of funding to the voluntary sector.
The final allocation was voted through by the Liberal Democrat/ Tory coalition last Wednesday.
Councillor Theo Blackwell, Labour’s deputy leader, has asked for spending to be reviewed by a scrutiny committee, an internal watchdog made up of backbenchers from all parties.
He said: “The council are cutting funds to small community groups which will force many to close.”
It is only the third time in the 14 months following their defeat that Labour have asked for a decision to be ‘called-in’.
Conservative leader Councillor Andrew Marshall said: “We’ve just been through a 10-month process. It would be very unfair to all the organisations that have been given funding.”