Calder Future | Volunteer's meeting - Calderdale's countryside under threat?

Calderdale Council Cabinet has recently published its budget proposal for the period 2012/13 to 2014/15. Within this is a 60% reduction in funding for Countryside Services, to take effect from April 2013, which would almost certainly have a huge impact on how our countryside is looked after – this includes sites such as Cromwell Bottom, Colden Clough & Eaves Wood; Norland Moor; North Dean Woods; Long & Scarr Woods, parts of Beechwood Park and Jerusalem Farm.

”Rationale for this option: The proposal is to market test the reconfigured service, with a view to seeing whether a charitable organisation is willing to deliver the service to the above specification (or higher, if possible) for £150k, thereby saving £200k (the first year's savings will be lower due to potential redundancy costs).  Voluntary organisations will be able to access sources of funding not available to the Council and so may be able to provide a service over and above the minimum specification. Implementation strategy for this option: expressions of interest will be sought to deliver the specification above for no more than £150k per annum.  This could result in a viable proposition from a voluntary organisation/ charitable trust; it could also result in a proposition from an employee mutual; or it could result in the service continuing to be delivered in-house but at a much reduced level (about 40% of current cost).”

Calderdale Sustainability Forum is extremely concerned about the implication of this scale of reductions to environmental volunteering.   We have written to the Portfolio holder councillor Nash and group director Robin Tuddenham expressing those concerns - you can read the full text here. And we are also organising a meeting on 30th January 4.30pm at the Countryside Office above Mytholmroyd library (Cragg Road HX7 5HR – near train and bus stops; stepped access to the building) for people and groups who are interested in joining together to argue and if necessary campaign against these cuts.  We need to demonstrate that without Countryside Services and its staff at the centre of things, then the environmental volunteering we all provide will start to run down, its wide ranging benefits won't be available, and we will all - including the Council and Calderdale’s environment - be the losers.

I hope to see you at the meeting on Monday.  If you're not able to attend but still want to contribute ideas or information - and particularly your views on the feasibility of the Council's proposals - please do contact me: ar@anthonyrae.com

 

Anthony Rae

Chair, Calderdale Sustainability Forum and Calder Future