Councillor Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety
To discuss the draft budget proposals
Minutes:
Councillor Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety, explained the budget process for 2012/13. Southwark was dependent on a large amount of funding from central government and therefore the impact of the cuts was greater than in some other local authorities. Cllr Livingstone outlined some of the measures the council was introducing. The youth fund would continue to support young people in education and training. The community restoration fund would be introduced to provide youth facilities and assist small business following the summer disturbances. As part of the community conversations many people had identified a lack of facilities for young people as a potential cause of the riots.
The council had introduced the London Living wage for its employees in 2011/12 but was aiming to extend this to contractors and other bodies who worked with the council to ensure that those who worked directly or indirectly for the council would receive a London Living Wage.
An Cleaner Greener Safer revenue fund would be introduced where community councils would decide on funds to award. Free schools meals programme would be extended and the council was looking at ways to assist the voluntary sector. Cllr Livingstone added that the council would aim to freeze council tax again in 2012/13 and that there was some assistance from central government to do this.
A resident asked about the provision of service for the elderly and how thy would be affected by the cuts. In response Cllr Livingstone explained that the council hoped to build a centre of excellence to deal with high level needs for the most vulnerable elderly.
A question was asked about why Southwark was hit harder than other boroughs by the cuts. Cllr Livingstone explained that some councils generated more of their income from council tax and business rates rather than from government funding, Southwark was affected more than these authorities due to the level of funding received from central government.
A resident asked about support for the voluntary sector and what the council was doing to ensure organisations were fit for purpose in order to create a positive economy in the borough. Cllr Livingstone explained that the council were giving funds to Community Action Southwark to help them support the voluntary sector and the transition fund was being developed for a second year to help them build for the future and plan ahead. He also identified the need to also think about new and emerging groups in the sector.