Labour Party News

Westminster Labour councillors slam Tory council health project cuts

Labour Councillors have slammed Westminster Conservatives for cutting funding of almost £16,000 from two health projects in Queen’s Park Ward which are run at the Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue. The health projects were previously funded by Westminster Primary Care Trust (PCT) but the PCT’s small grants have now been merged with the City Council’s voluntary sector grants and the Conservative-run Council has now decided to axe the funding for both projects.

The two projects are:

* Physical Activity Classes @ The Beethoven - the cost of delivering four classes per week for a whole year, engaging a minimum of 60 residents per week, is £10,200. These activities have proved highly popular, especially the women-only classes, as there is a lack of affordable classes with crèche provision locally

* Under 12’s Physical Activity Classes @ The Beethoven - the cost of delivering four classes for under 12’s per week for one year, engaging a minimum of 60 children per week, is £5,400. These activities have proved highly popular, as there is a lack of affordable activities for under 12’s locally

Queen’s Park Ward Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group said:

“The Council decision to axe the funding for these two health projects is an absolute disgrace. I have asked for an urgent explanation from the Council’s Chief Executive. Queen’s Park Ward is home to some of the poorest people in Westminster with poor health being a serious problem. How can the Conservatives possibly justify scrapping these two popular and well-used projects?

“The irony of this Council decision is that the PCT and Well London have provided funds to appoint a new Health Co-ordinator, part of their role being to further develop the Beethoven Centre as a Health Hub and to train Health Centre staff to encourage residents to access the affordable health initiatives deliver from the Centre, such as the food co-op, weigh-in sessions and affordable physical exercise classes. This strategy is now looking pretty sick, thanks to Westminster Conservatives.

“The Council has previously called for a ‘unified public service’ in Westminster so that it could get its hands on PCT and Metropolitan Police funds. If this is the first taste of what we can expect then I advise the PCT to ensure that it keeps hold of its money and does not allow Westminster Conservatives to make funding decisions on its behalf on vital projects.”

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