WALTHAM FOREST: Protest planned ahead of cuts meeting

Phases four and seven of the reorganisation plans, which will be voted on at a meeting this evening, include the loss of 128 posts, half of which will be cut in the department supporting children and young people.

Up to 70 people working in youth services are due to lose their jobs under the proposals, with 17 posts lost in adult social care.

These include half the 14 wardens who support elderly people in sheltered housing.

A council report admits that the homeless, mentally ill, disabled, elderly and vulnerable young are most likely to be adversely affected.

The authority is attempting to save £65 million over the next three years as it faces an unprecedented reduction in government funding.

But campaigners say the council should make savings in other areas and also want the authority to resist the cuts.

Waltham Forest Unison branch secretary Dave Knight said: “The Government seem so determined to reduce local government they're not acknowledging the damage it's going to do.

“It's clearly not the case that frontline services are being protected.

“These are all important services which are being affected and these measures are going to have a big impact.

"But the cuts seem infinite. The council are consulting on phase eight at the moment and we don't know when it will end.”

But Conservative opposition leader Cllr Matt Davis said he believed core services were being protected.

He added: “It is of course extremely sad for the individuals whose lives are going to be disrupted, be it by losing their jobs or a service they use being curtailed.

"However in the circumstances in which the council finds itself it's hard to see what else can be done.”

Campaigners will gather from 6pm by the Bell pub near the Town Hall in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

They will then march to the building for a rally.

The meeting is at 7.30pm in the council chamber.

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