Labour Fund Bureaucracy Rather than Local Projects (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Labour Fund Bureaucracy Rather than Local Projects

September 15, 2006 6:14 PM

Lib Dem Councillor Emily Fieran-Reed was furious last night when Labour took the decision to fund bureaucracy rather than local projects.

Last night Labour run West Area Committee refused to consider the bids that had been submitted for its £80,000 local area budget and decided instead to waste the excessive sum of £10,000 on consultation and finding ideas, something every other Area managed for free. A further sub committee would then be created to administer the remaining £70,000.

Three of Islington's four Area Committees allocated their £80,000 budgets this week giving money to local projects, suggested by local groups and local councillors. £10,000 could have funded park improvements, provided sports equipment, or covered set up costs for a local group.

Despite saying that the sub committee was meant to help involve local residents Labour then refused the Lib Dem suggestion that at least ten local residents should be involved in the committee.

Emily said "This budget is meant to fund local projects. I had several things that local residents told me they wanted, so I put them forward. It seems that Labour just aren't in touch enough with their residents to be able to get ideas together.

"As far as I can see when Labour saw that a Lib Dem was the only person with any suggestions, they just decided to delay it. They wouldn't even consider my suggestions and voted instead to create more bureaucracy and waste £10,000 from this small fund.

"In every other area of Islington, Lib Dem run Area Committees managed to come up with suggestions, and then divided money between the different wards and projects. The fact that the Labour run committee is the only one which can't manage this really says something. They're out of touch and out of ideas"

Last year West Area Committee managed to carry out a consultation and received 60 suggestions from residents on a without spending a penny from the budget.