News from Plymouth Labour

Plymouth City Council cuts free leisure for children in care

Labour Councillors are campaigning to prevent the Council withdrawing access to council leisure facilities for children in care. At present the Council provides a pass for children to use Plymouth City Council’s leisure facilities free of charge once they have been in care for over a month. In a shock decision, yesterday the Council announced that this service would be withdrawn from the 31st July 2010.

Councillor Sally Bowie, Vice Chair of the Corporate Parenting Group said: “As corporate parents we have responsibility to provide for children in our care with the best possible services so that they can achieve their potential. I was involved in putting together the “Plymouth Pledge” which sets out the Council’s promises to children in care. Within this pledge is the commitment that the council will provide children in care with a pass to access the Council’s leisure facilities. I was shocked to be emailed last night with the news that the Council are going to withdrawal this pledge.”

“No consultation has taken place and the Council has not even considered finding alternative ways of funding this commitment. This has not been discussed with the children and their carers even though they will lose their passes in less than 10 days.”

“This action will deny these children the right to play sport, go swimming and enjoy the Cities leisure facilities just because they are in care. This is unacceptable.”

Councillor Nicky Williams, Shadow Cabinet Member for Performance & Transformation added: “Yes, we know that budget cuts are unavoidable but we have to act responsibly and avoid penalising the most vulnerable. This decision is shocking because it appears to have been a knee jerk reaction to a central government grant being withdrawn. No thought has been given as to how can provide this service through other funding streams. I am afraid that this is a sign of things to come, with those who can least afford it bearing the brunt of the Coalition’s spending cuts.”

Other news from Plymouth Labour

• Activists restart Plymstock Party as Labour targets local elections - 12 December 2011
• Plymouth politicians launch petition to keep adventure activities safety law - 6 December 2011
• "Keep Moor View in Plymouth" boundary campaign launched - 7 November 2011