NAVCA welcomes Eric Pickles action on Nottinghamshire cuts
Joe Irvin, NAVCA’s Chief Executive, has welcomed comments by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that he will make public his disapproval of the cuts Nottinghamshire County Council has made in their voluntary sector budget. Eric Pickles also said that he will be writing to the Council. The comments came in response to a question from Joe Irvin at the New Local Government Network (NLGN) annual conference on 25 January.
Last year the Government issued Best Value Statutory Guidance saying that lcal authorities should not pass on disproportionate cuts to local voluntary and community groups. In Nottinghamshire the council has made 34% cuts to their voluntary sector grant aid budget. Cuts which Deputy Leader Martin Suthers admitted in Third Sector magazine are disproportionate. NAVCA has been campaigning to get the Government to intervene in Nottinghamshire for several weeks.
Joe Irvin, NAVCA’s Chief Executive, said
“I am delighted that Eric Pickles has said he will make his disapproval of these cuts public and also write to the council. We know that budgets are tight but local charities should be treated fairly.
“We have been campaigning with our local Nottinghamshire members since before Christmas for the Government to intervene in this case and I am delighted that Eric Pickles responded to my question in such a positive way. I hope that the County Council will listen to the Secretary of State and re-examine their decision.”
