Housing charities 'left in limbo' as Derby City Council freezes cash process
HOUSING charities have expressed concerns after a procurement process for their services was stopped yesterday on the day it should have opened for tenders.
Instead, more cuts are to be implemented in housing-related support services by Derby City Council and it is not clear if the tendering process will restart in the near future and what level of funding will be available following more reductions.
YMCA Derbyshire said it was worried after Cath Roff, city council strategic director of adults, health and housing, said the procurement process was cancelled so that further cuts could be made first. This, she said, was due to "the unprecedented and challenging financial position that the council faces".
The council announced in the summer that its funding for housing-related support services would be reduced from £9.5 million to £3.3 million.
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Rachel Morris, YMCA Derbyshire's head of housing and communities, said: "The decision to delay procurement leaves all providers in limbo and is deeply troubling for the vulnerable local people we support and our members of staff."
Meanwhile, Martin Rawson, the city council's cabinet member for children and young people, has written to Education Secretary Michael Gove about cuts to funding for children's services.
The early intervention grant, which supports children's centres and support for vulnerable young people, is set to be cut by £150 million nationally next year.
Comments
by NewForOld
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 7:58AM
“It seems that Labour can't U Turn the cuts either despite their promises at the last election.”