Basil Bowditch, Crawley Socialist Party and Unison member (personal capacity)
Crawley Labour council has voted through another budget that once again shows its unwillingness to stand up to austerity.
Crawley is plagued with a rapidly growing need for temporary accommodation. Instead of publicly campaigning for a return of sufficient government support, Crawley council has decided to pass the cost onto its constituents.
Everything up
Labour is increasing council tax by the maximum 5%, and council rents by almost 4%. Both garage rents and allotment plot charges will increase. The council plans to make at least £400,000 from parking charges by increasing penalty costs.
All this, just for the council to also implement cuts to vital and beloved services, such as ending outreach play services that help many struggling parents with childcare and provide a safe and educational outlet for many children in low-income households.
One former play bus worker spoke with us on our Socialist Party campaign stall, telling us how she fears for the wellbeing and mental health of many struggling families, who rely on this service.
There are plans to change the council department that I work in – ‘neighbourhood services’ – parks, green spaces, and street cleaning. There will be a reduction of staff by not filling vacancies. This will add only more pressure to a workforce that has had to pick the slack up after a reduction of seasonal staff during the austerity years.
We have been led to believe that these so difficult decisions to cut services are all unfortunately part of a necessary evil and that councils have a legal obligation to present a balanced budget.
The Socialist Party and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) have said how councils can avoid making devastating cutbacks to an already damaged sector. We said Labour councils should resist cuts, linking up with other local authorities to demand that central government bring back adequate funding.
They have a choice
Local residents, along with Socialist Party members from Crawley and Brighton, rallied outside the town hall, with placards and banners at hand – informing those inside that they have a choice, and whatever they decide, will be remembered in coming elections.
We didn’t sway the cutting Labour councillors. However, this has not disheartened those in our movement. We are fighting to bring back services, like the children’s play bus. We will continue to encourage and inspire workers in trade unions to join the fight.
If these councillors are not willing to put the people first, then they are not fit to represent us.
