From Budget Consultation to Budget Protests

Bury Action Group was 're-born' from the anger expressed at the Bury Council budget consultation on 1st February. 180 people attended the meeting in the Elizabethan Suite to hear excuses and hand-wringing from Cllr Iain Garside, lead member for Resource, and the Council's Finance Director Mike Owen. 

It was clear that the council had simply accepted whatever meagre resources had been doled out by the Con-Dem coalition, and we, the people of Bury, simply had to accept there was no alternative to the cuts. There were even lists of budget headings strategically placed around the room, with post-its supplied, so you could pick your favourite cut! Needless to say no-one took up the opportunity.

Speaker after speaker attacked one proposal or another:

• There was a moving speech from the mother of an autistic child whose safe and stress-free journey to school is made possible by a sensitive escort and a taxi. The threat to cut this service means this mother will have to consider giving up work in order to guarantee her child arrives at school in a fit state to learn.
• A proposal to cut the youth service was roundly condemned and it was pointed out that the council, if it goes ahead with this crazy plan, will suffer other costs - vandalism and graffiti, not to mention pupils excluded from school because of frustration and isolation.
• A series of sharp questions from campaigners for the Prestwich Longfield Suite revealed skewed accountancy practice which meant the centre could never under any circumstances cover its costs. It was even alleged that preferential rents might have been charged to certain providers. These questions had the Finance Director visibly rocking and asking to discuss the matter 'in private'.

Many, many other concerns were expressed, and several people revealed that they had been told that their jobs were 'disappearing' without any written notification and without normal procedures being followed.

Fortunately Bury Action Group supporters had already prepared a leaflet advertising our first meeting a week later, which was distributed during and after the consultation, to warm support from most of the audience, which explains why we had such a good attendance - 60+ - at our first meeting.

Bury Council may like to treat us like sheep but we're not going to be lambs to the slaughter!