Burnley council leader in fight over youth and community centre charges
10:37am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News
By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter
THE LEADER of Burnley Council has called for plans to introduce charges for voluntary groups using youth and community centres to be put on hold.
Lancashire County Council is planning on introducing the charges, but Coun Julie Cooper said that the plans should be suspended.
She has filed a motion to go before councillors at the next full council meeting in Burnley on Thursday October 25. She said the move should be delayed “pending a comprehensive community engagement process that considers the impact and implications of this potentially damaging approach.
“This initial suspension of charges should last until at least March 31, which would allow time for various options to be considered for raising income from voluntary groups.”
Coun Couper says there shouled be ‘a fair system...that recognises issues like the impact of poverty on people’s ability to pay and the contribution voluntary groups make to the county council’s strategic objectives and operational targets.’
“We also call upon the county council to delay the introduction of any charges emerging from the engagement process until at least October 1 2013, because this will give unfunded voluntary groups the opportunity to develop their capacity to generate income without undermining the important work they carry out on a day to day basis,” the motion says.
Comments(6)
Rimbus
says...
3:21pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Karen Heseltine wrote:Looks like Julie's just been well & truly owned!
Ha ha, well thats a "two faced" way to look at it Julie, when your councillors are refusing to use their Community Ward Opportunities Money of £11K a year to help community and residents groups who are delivering just the same activities and services as what you are fighting for, think you should look to your own councillors first dear. And help the ones that you claim you are standing up for!
FREDF2009
says...
5:14pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Totally agree with the above comments.
DaveBurnley
says...
7:52pm Thu 18 Oct 12
rilistic
says...
7:52pm Thu 18 Oct 12
Pendlesider
says...
10:29pm Sat 20 Oct 12
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Concerned, I contacted county councillor Mark perks about who's idea it was to charge volunteer groups and when the consultation was, how much is charged etc.
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seeing as councillor Perks represented young peoples services, and claiming £27,000 in allowances for the priveledge, I thought I'd email him to get the full story.
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I didn't get an answer, instead, FOUR WEEKS later, I received a reply from cllr perks that I would receive an answer to my query 'in due course'.
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In my day a phone call would have resolved the matter THE SAME DAY, you try contacting a county council officer or county councillor! a waste of time!. and i might add money for the calls.
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no consultation and no agreement then don't pay a penny to this worthless shower of bully's trying to eek money from Volunteers who donate their time and effort for FREE!
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As for Cllr Cooper, it was her political party that forced the hand to penalise the poor in the first place! of course, only the tories would even consider that, so those who voted conservative can thank yourselves for electing faceless, gutless bullies who have no morals about singling out those who they feel cannot fight back. volunteers, Do not pay, contact your MP and demand WHY any cuts should be aimed at voluntary services.
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Karen Heseltine says...
10:49am Thu 18 Oct 12