Sara Gillman, Reading Socialist Party
Around 20 attended Reading’s people’s budget meeting on 7 February. Speakers included an NEU activist, a Socialist Party member and Your Party member. Several warned that the financial situation for the council is set to get worse.
The Labour council has plans for further cuts and the government is trying to push down dissent by integrating smaller councils into bigger unitary authorities.
The fact that funding for Special Educational Needs services is set to be cut drastically by 2028 was raised. Several other areas of cuts were also discussed, with ideas put forward for demands on housing , social care, and public transport .
A Green councillor in attendance described how the budget-setting process has now become even more bureaucratic and undemocratic. Opposition councillors are given just ten days to respond to the budget once they have been shown it. Even more worrying is how Reading Borough Council now withholds the financial papers from general public viewing. Councillors are told not to talk about it at all!
Overall there was unanimous agreement to demand the council sets a needs-based budget, funded from reserves and borrowing. And importantly, to mobilise a campaign demanding the funds which have been stolen from us by central government through austerity cuts.
