Liberal Democrats are calling on Labour run City of York Council to cancel planned cuts to community centre grants.

 

In recent weeks Foxwood, Chapelfields and Oaken Grove centres have all warned they could face closure or be forced to scale back activities as they are set to lose their grants from York Council.

 

At next week’s Full Council meeting the Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Keith Aspden, will challenge the Labour Cabinet to address these concerns.

 

He is calling for the second year of planned funding cuts, due to be rubber-stamped in February for Labour’s 2014/15 Budget, to be scrapped.

 

Commenting, Cllr Keith Aspden said:

 

“Community centres offer a huge range of activities including youth clubs, fitness classes, lunch clubs for the elderly and are a venue for range of one-off events. They are at the heart of their community and are greatly valued by residents and local groups.

 

“The council should be doing everything it can to support community centres and expand the facilities and services they can offer. Instead, it is planning to cut their grants leaving them vulnerable to closure. These centres are largely managed by hardworking volunteers, but it seems that they and the communities they serve are being cut adrift by Labour.

 

“The Labour Cabinet Member should reconsider the planned funding cuts and listen to the concerns raised by the community centres. Instead of wasting millions on schemes like the Arts Barge and redoing King’s Square – the Labour Council should actually be spending money where communities need and want it to be spent.”

 

Cllr Keith Aspden will ask the Labour Cabinet Member for ‘Crime & Stronger Communities’ the following question at next Thursday’s Full Council meeting: “Will the Cabinet Member take on board the concerns raised by the chairs of both Foxwood and Chapelfields community centres and reconsider planned funding cuts?”

 

Labour plans to cut £140,000 of grants from community centres in 2014/15 and subsequently transfer centres to ‘community management’. In 2013/14 funding to community centres was cut by £40,000.

 

Foxwood, Chapelfields and Oaken Grove community centres have raised concerns about the funding cuts with Foxwood Community Centre saying it is facing an annual shortfall of £25,000.