Cuts ‘Assassinate’ Voluntary Groups

CITY councillors were today accused of “assassinating” Edinburgh’s community groups after backing funding cuts that will lead to closures and job losses.

At a highly-charged meeting in the City Chambers yesterday, nine groups made last-minute pleas for more cash, but only one – the Edinburgh Community Food Initiative – was successful.

A £300,000 funding cut for Edinburgh Leisure means six of the city’s eight sports centre crèches will now almost certainly close, despite protests from mothers and a petition signed by more than 1400 people in just a few days.

Five of Edinburgh’s community newspapers, which have been published for over 30 years and are read by 175,000 people, are also set to be wound up, with the loss of 11 jobs.

Many groups also hit out after hearing of the cuts for the first time days ago, either from council reports or in the Evening News.

Scores of groups will now have to cope with no annual increase in funding – some for the fourth year running.

Labour group leader Ewan Aitken said: “These cuts will decimate services across the city. The trust (between the council and the voluntary sector] has been shattered into tiny pieces and will not be healed for years.

“This administration is utterly incompetent, and the cuts will hurt real lives, and this will not be forgotten.”

Labour councillor Maureen Child added: “This is an assassination of local groups.”

Tory councillor Jeremy Balfour said: “This lack of consultation – finding out at the last minute – is no way to treat any organisation.”

Members of nine organisations pleaded with councillors for more money.

Arts chiefs at Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera questioned the “rationale” for their £83,000 reduction.

Former Lord Provost Eric Milligan said: “To withdraw funding for these national organisations is an absolute disgrace, and it will do serious damage to the Edinburgh Festival.”

Representatives from the Gorgie/Dalry Partnership said a 75 per cent cut will lead to the closure of an “irreplaceable” service.

The Edinburgh Community Newspaper Trust’s grant is being cut by 85 per cent to £18,829, with provision from the administration for compulsory redundancies.

It warned that its five titles – the South Edinburgh Echo, North Edinburgh News, West Edinburgh Times, Craigmillar Chronicle and Gorgie and Dalry Gazette – all face closure.

Staff at the Edinburgh Community Food Initiative, which helps around 6000 vulnerable people, were put on redundancy notice after proposals for a 50 per cent funding cut, but the Lib Dem/SNP administration submitted an amendment, securing an extra £17,000 for the organisation.

Councillors defended the cuts, with Lib Dem finance leader Gordon Mackenzie saying that “difficult choices had to be made”.

City leader Jenny Dawe rounded on Labour for “manipulating” the truth, amid arguments over the actual cost of the cuts – put by the opposition at £2.3 million.

“The cost is £780,000 and even if your arithmetic wasn’t flawed, your integrity certainly is,” she told Councillor Aitken.