Community minister Pickles to run gauntlet of angry Warwickshire
citizens
11 February 2011
When: Friday 11 February 2011 - registration for
the conference starts at 11.15am
Where: Chesford Grange Hotel, CV8 2LD
What: Conservative Local Government Councillors
Association
Cabinet ministers Eric Pickles and Baroness Warsi will have to face
angry Warwickshire workers when they attend the meeting of the
Conservative Local Government Councillors Association today
(Friday).
Workers from the local branches of Unite and GMB will lobby the
meeting to highlight the mounting opposition to the cuts being
imposed on local authorities by central government. Yesterday
around 90 Lib Dem councillors said that the cuts were too harsh and
too soon. Unite and the GMB have both been campaigning
vigorously for a more humane response to the banker-caused deficit,
one which keeps people in work and supports them through these
tough times with decent public services.
Speaking ahead of the demo, Geoff Dewhirst, secretary of the
Warwickshire branch of Unite, said: “The enormity of the cuts and
their full effect have yet to be felt. When they do bite, the most
vulnerable individuals and groups will suffer most.
"Local councillors are taking advantage of the spurious argument
that ordinary people should pay for the excesses of the banking
sector.
"This Conservative Association might well deem it appropriate to
hold its conference in Warwickshire, where the county council has
openly declared an intention to remove its delivery of services,
but Unite finds it completely insensitive at a time when
Warwickshire county council has moved towards the dismantling of
its youth service and closure of care homes for elderly people,
just two examples of its draconian measures.
"The fate of the youth service is of particular concern. It serves
so many young people with access to support that is otherwise
unavailable to them. At a crucial period of their progress to
adulthood, denial of the stability of this established and
specialised service is devastating. All youth work staff will be
made redundant, and youth centres will close their doors.”
ENDS
Further details can be obtained from Teresa Chalcroft (chair
Warwickshire branch of Unite) on 07789 653 950
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