News from Plymouth Labour

Plymouth Tories refuse to give children spending priority

An opportunity for Plymouth City Council to make spending on Childrens Services a priority for the future was thwarted today by the ruling Conservatives.

Calling for additional funding for children to be made available from April next year, Labour Councillor Pauline Purnell asked that the Tories put children first.

“I am asking the Tory Cabinet to make a commitment to the future of our children,” explained Cllr Purnell.

An amendment to a Council motion to beef up a proposal from one reading “as and when resources become available”, to one which would commit the Council to providing additional money by early next year, was met with derision from the ruling cabinet members. This dismissal was taken up by all other Tory councillors to defeat the Labour amendment.

Cllr Purnell added:

“The implications of this for the professional staff members of the council and the children they care for are extremely serious. This decision means that anything the Tories have to say about putting children first amount only to hollow promises.”

Other news from Plymouth Labour

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• "Keep Moor View in Plymouth" boundary campaign launched - 7 November 2011