Coventry Against The Cuts

Lobby Turns Up The Heat On Councillors

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Many of the people gathered outside Coventry city council house were not political activists but ordinary people who use public services. The campaign to save Foleshill Leisure Centre is just one example of the devastating effect central government cuts are having on local communities. Last year Coventry had £38m cut out of it's budget and we have begun to see the effects on our city.

As Coventry's fifty-four councillors arrived for the Budget Setting Meeting that will rubber stamp a further £17m in cuts for 2012/13, protesters from Foleshill challenged them to explain why the community leisure centre was being closed. Foleshill has a high obesity rate and the loss of the leisure centre would only make the situation worse, said protesters.

Councillors voted to approve another £17m cuts and will be back next February to cut even more services. The pain for service users and the city of Coventry will not stop - cutting jobs and services will continue .... unless people rise up and say 'enough is enough'. The Greek people have had five years of recession and austerity. Their living standards have been driven down as leaders make the people pay for the crisis caused by the banking sector. Yet, the Greeks did not just sit back and do nothing. They organised, they went on strike and they fought back. Because they were willing to fight cuts, the European Central Bank, the EU and the IMF have had to re-think their tactics. We can learn a lot from our European neighbours, that by fighting to defend public services, jobs and conditions we can win!

VIDEO: Lobby of Coventry Budget Setting Meeting

Lobby Coventry Council - No To £17m Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:31:00 +0000

There will be a lobby of Coventry City Council on Tuesday 21st February 2012 at 12.30pm as the 54 councillors that represent our city meet and vote on the Budget Setting and Council Tax Rates for 2012/13.

Last year every councillor (with the exception of Socialist councillor Dave Nellist), voted to slash services in Coventry by £38m. This year another £17m will be wiped out of the budget if the Labour controlled council accept the budget proposals. Labour now have five more councillors than they did when they voted for £38m cuts last February, but sadly they will follow the party line instead of standing up for the people of Coventry.

Where: Council House, Earl Street, Coventry
When: Tuesday 21 February 2012 at 12.30pm

Labour and Tory councillors cried crocodile tears as each party blamed the other yet still voted to cut public services. Since last February we have seen funding cut to organisations that help communities, Sure Start come under attack and over 500 council jobs axed.

We will be outside the council house because these cuts will not help our city - we have seen unemployment rise and shops shut down following the £38m of cuts that have already been implemented. Car parking charges are set to rise again this year, adding another nail into the coffin of Coventry city centre businesses, and several Sure Start centres will be axed.

Ordinary people are being forced to pay for the banking crisis they did not create, and another £17m cuts will only add misery to thousands who rely on the services our council provides. If these cuts go through unopposed, then next February councillors will be voting to accept even more budget cuts for 2013/14.

Join us outside the council house at 12.30pm as we say 'STOP THE CUTS'.

Coventry Poverty: How Benefit Claimants Are Suffering

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:39:00 +0000

The Coventry Telegraph have been running a series of stories about the growing problem Coventry is facing with poverty. Here is health reporter Warren Manger with his latest article - for more information on the subject, please buy the Coventry Telegraph:

A GROWING number of Coventry families are at risk of slipping into poverty because they are hitting more problems with benefit claims.

Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau has seen a sharp increase in complaints from people whose unemployment support and disability allowance have been withdrawn.

And its advisers fear that will force more families – and consequently children – into poverty because they are not fit to work or there are no suitable jobs available for them.

Daksha Piparia, of Coventry CAB, said: “We hear a lot about people working their way out of poverty, but we have to make that work pay.

“We have seen a rise in the number of temporary jobs and minimum wage employment. People might actually find themselves in a worse position if they take that sort of job – we have got to create the right jobs.”

On Monday the Telegraph reported how nearly 35,000 children were living in poverty across Coventry and Warwickshire, affecting their health, life chances and life expectancy.

And yesterday we revealed a startling snapshot of how poverty was harming children’s dental health in the Hillfields.

The government has already vowed to overturn loopholes the House of Lords introduced to a controversial benefit cap of £26,000 per family.

That debate has diverted attention from the fact more families are already being pushed to the precipice by the way benefits criteria are now enforced in cities like Coventry.

Coventry CAB is receiving more requests for financial advice and complaints about benefits such as jobseekers allowance being wrongly sanctioned or stopped.

In particular it points to a seasonal spate of cases before Christmas.

Ms Piparia said she was told Jobcentre Plus was now enforcing the criteria more strictly but she doubted they were getting it right and giving people enough information and warning before taking action.

“I was concerned to see this done two weeks before Christmas when people need that money,” she said.

“If they wanted to apply the criteria more strictly why couldn’t they do it in the summer when people are spending less on gas and electric.”

Coventry CAB has also seen more people who claim disability benefit being declared fit for work.

It says more people face appeals that take up to 18 months, only for their benefits to be revoked again at their next assessment.

CAB partnership manager Emma Shires has led a series of outreach schemes to give vulnerable families advice through local schools and GP surgeries. She said children’s attendance and attainment at school often suffered due to problems at home so it was vital to support families.

*Source: Warren Manger / Coventry Telegraph

Rugby Anti-Cuts Protesters Join Campaign Against Welfare Reform Bill

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:50:00 +0000

Last Friday, members of RugbyAgainst the Cuts joined campaigners from across Warwickshire to protest against the Welfare Reform Bill which is going through Parliament this very week. “This Bill is trying to make the poor and disabled pay for an economic crisis they did not cause,” Rugby Against the Cuts spokesperson Pete McLaren claimed today. “A number of us from Rugby, including members of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and the Green Party, joined the protest outside the Constituency Office of Leamington MP Chris White. It is his Government which is pushing through these attacks on the Welfare State,” he continued, “and protest organisers ‘Disabled People Against Cuts’ targeted Leamington because it is a Tory marginal.”

“In the event, Chris White cancelled the planned surgery, so we gave in a long letter detailing the adverse effects of the Welfare Bill, including:

Introduction of Universal Credit which will bring compulsory workfare and caps on housing benefit and other payments, leading to increased poverty and homelessness.
Moving people from Incapacity Benefit to Employment Support Allowance through punitive and unfair compulsory work capability assessments which are carried out by Atos, a ‘private for-profit’ company who are declaring that those who need 24-hour support, and those with terminal cancer, are ‘fit for work’ in order to meet government targets and reduce disabled peoples’ income drastically
The introduction of a much stricter sanctions regime with the loss of benefits for up to 3 years, a risk particularly to people with learning disabilities or mental health needs who find it difficult to cope with the demands of looking for work at the same time as having little prospect of finding any.
Replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) with the explicit aim of cutting entitlement by 20%.”

“The Welfare Reform Bill that Chris White and other Tory and Lib Dem MPs support has suffered a number of defeats in the House of Lords recently as people begin to realize just how draconian these cuts will be. Whilst these cuts are being forced onto the poorest and most vulnerable, the richest people, whose banking friends helped cause the economic crisis, are actually seeing their wealth rise,” he concluded.

*PICTURE: With their banners in the background, members of Rugby Against the Cuts and Rugby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition join the protest against the Welfare Bill outside Chris White MP’s office in Leamington on January 20

Thousands Of Coventry Children Living In Poverty

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:36:00 +0000

A shocking report has highlighted the growing number of children in Coventry that are growing up below the poverty line, with four out of every nine children in St Michaels falling into this category. The Coventry Telegraph highlighted the story:

Councillor Dave Nellist represents this ward which includes Hillfields, city centre and parts of Upper Stoke and has the highest rate of child poverty in the region.

He said the figures showed the main political parties had failed children by putting business interests before ordinary people. He called for a radical change.

“This paints a disturbing picture of family life and children’s poverty in Coventry where children start their lives with all the odds stacked against them,” he said.

“Children are the victims. They haven’t caused the banking crisis.”

In six of Coventry’s 18 electoral wards at least one in three children lives below the poverty line. Over 2,000 children in St Michaels ward are classed as living in poverty and cuts to services will only make it worse for these and many other families in Coventry.

Read Warren Manger's full report in the Coventry Telegraph

Council Called Upon To Oppose Education Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:51:00 +0000

Jarrow March in Coventry

The fight against cuts in Coventry continues as almost 250 people signed a petition calling for Coventry City Council to join the campaign against education cuts and tuition fees this week. The story was covered in the Coventry Telegraph by Lucy Lynch. Here is what she wrote:

They want the government to bring back the education maintenance allowance, a payment made to students staying on at sixth form or college, which will be scrapped later this year.

The petition was started in October last year when a modern day version of the Jarrow march came through Coventry.

The marchers, protesting at youth unemployment, highlighted tuition fees and abolition of the EMA as two of their concerns.

They were following in the footsteps of unemployed people marching for jobs from Jarrow to London 76 years ago in the recession of the 1930s.

Coventry-based supporters started a petition about the two issues to try and get Coventry City Council involved in the campaign.

They say the cutbacks and increased fees have left thousands of young people in Coventry either unable to stay on at school, college or university or out of a job.

The petition has been signed by 248 people and will be considered at a meeting headed by Coun Lynnette Kelly (Lab, Henley), cabinet member for eduction.

A council report recommends she assure the petitioner that the council is trying to ensure there are jobs, training and education for all young people in the city.

Coun Dave Nellist (Soc, St Michael’s), who handed the petition to the council, said: “In working class families the prospect of being up to £50,000 in debt with no guarantee of a job is putting people off going to university.

“Anecdotally the end of the education maintenance allowance means some young people who would have stayed at school feel the need to leave and start earning money. Others do jobs in the evening when they should be studying.

“We are asking the council to host a meeting to bring all the campaigning organisations together.”

The EMA paid up to £30 a week depending on household income to 16 to 18-year-olds at school sixth forms or college.

The payments are being phased out and are due to stop completely in June.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph / Lucy Lynch

Disabled People Against Cuts Set For Leamington Protest

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:56:00 +0000

Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) are calling a protest outside Chris White's office to protest against cuts to the NHS and the ongoing restructuring of the welfare system.

They would appreciate as much of a student presence and support as possible.

Please come and support us on the protest starting at 1pm at 43a Clemens Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 2DP. [MAP]

For more information on DPAC visit: http://www.dpac.uk.net/

Coventry Public Sector Strikes: News And Pictures From N30

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Workers from the public sector in Coventry attended a fantastic march and rally in the city centre as part of the biggest strike Britain has seen in decades. Throughout the city, picket lines were formed outside schools, universities and public sector buildings - many set up before daylight!

Around 2,500 people gathered outside Coventry Cathedral as a carnival atmosphere developed and then set off around Coventry city centre, ending opposite the council house with a powerful show of strenght as union reps and local councillors addressed the large crowd.

Coventry Trades Council members, active on Coventry Against The Cuts spoke about the attack on public sector pensions and the need to oppose all cuts. Colourful banners, whistles and glorious sunshine all helped make the event more fun as Coventry shared in this historic strike.

As the rally closed, four fire engines drove past honking their horns in a show of solidarity with the other public sector workers in Coventry who were striking to defend their pensions from the attacks of the Conservative led coalition.

Local media groups were out in force to report from the days events, their stories and pictures can be seen on the following links:

Coventry Telegraph: Public Sector Strike - Hands Off Our Pensions

Coventry Telegraph VIDEO: Jane Nellist speaks about the strike and pensions

Coventry Observer: Strikers Prepared To Continue Action

Coventry Observer: Workers Right To Be Concerned - MP

Coventry Observer PICTURES: Coventry Hit By Mass Walkout

BBC Coventry: Coventry Staff Strike Over Public Sector Pensions

Coventry Observer: Picket Lines Form As Public Sector Workers Strike

Sure Start Nurseries To Close As Council Slashes Services

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Thousands signed the petition to try and save Coventry Sure Start services and parents were outside the council house to lobby the Labour led council as it met to decide the fate of the children's centres around Coventry on Wednesday 23rd November 2011. Les Reid wrote the following report for the Coventry Telegraph ......

BIG cuts at Coventry's Sure Start nurseries have been approved despite renewed protests from parents and 3,200 people signing a petition.

Parents and opposition councillors rallied on the Council House steps yesterday shortly before education cabinet member Lynnette Kelly swung the axe on nursery care at nine Sure Start children’s centres.

The decision is expected to be rubber-stamped by Coventry City Council’s Labour-run cabinet next Tuesday.

As the Telegraph revealed last week, the final £1million cuts plans after a hotly contested public consultation spared full-time nursery care at just two centres.

The other centre’s nurseries will be cut back to part-time opening hours during term-time only. All centres will lose nursery provision for under-twos. About 50 jobs are at risk.

The plan has been controversial as families – led by Tile Hill children’s centre mum Sam Lyle – protested it will remove choice and quality of care, cause disruption, and force working parents out of their jobs to adjust to the new opening hours.

Opposition Conservatives, Lib Dem and Socialist councillors have rallied behind the campaign.

Ms Lyle told Coun Kelly’s cabinet member’s meeting that the reprieve for two centres – and delaying the changes till next September to help children starting school next year – did not go far enough.

She said the council’s aim to cut back on children’s centres for all, to target only the most vulnerable children, would “stigmatise” services – which Labour in government aimed to be “universal” for all.

The nurseries affected are at children’s centres at Middle Ride, The Barley Lea, Canley, Tile Hill, Radford, Foleshill, Stoke Heath, Moat House and Bell Green.

As we have revealed, six other children’s centres in “better off” areas have also been potentially identified for complete closure next year – Whoberley, Earlsdon, Finham, Wyken, Coundon and Cheylesmore.

Coun Kelly said a £4.5million government cut to £19.5million early years’ grants gave the council little choice but to target funding at the most needy, to try to reduce rising numbers of children going into
care.

She said 93 per cent of city parents used private nurseries and the council could not afford subsidies.

The two centres winning a reprieve – possibly Stoke Heath and Radford – will be in communities with fewer private places. Coun Kelly said many parents with two-year-olds preferred child-minders.

Socialist councillor Dave Nellist urged the council to lobby for a national campaign against government Sure Start funding cuts.

Tory Susanna Dixon said: “This is a short-term saving for a long-term loss.”

*Source: Coventry Telegraph/ Les Reid
*Picture: Coventry Telegrpah

Sure Start Lobby Council As Vote Looms

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:32:00 +0000

Coventry Save Our Children's Centres will be holding a lobby outside the council house at 12.30pm on Wednesday 23rd November 2011, as the council cabinet vote on the future of Sure Start centres in Coventry. Come along and show your support for Sure Start by joining CSOCC on the council steps and make your voice heard ahead of the crucial council vote.

For more updates on the Coventry Save Our Children's Centres campaign, join them on:

Twitter

Facebook

Local NHS Faces Massive Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Coventry and Warwickshire NHS have been reported in the Coventry Telegraph that it will need to make a staggering £28m saving before April 2012. While the government pledged front line services would not be affected, the reality for NHS employees and patients is somewhat different..

On top of the £28m savings before the end of this financial year, University Hospital and Rugby St Cross will be expected to save a further £20m from next years budget. All of this at a time when NHS budgets have faced more and more pressure due to rising inflation costs - not helped by private pharmaceutical companies who continue to inflate their charges.

Read the Coventry Telegraph article by Warren Manger: HERE

Coventry Against The Cuts has highlighted over the past year how budget cuts would affect front line services in our city and with more cuts on the way, it is YOUR services that are under threat. If you believe the NHS is worth fighting for, then come along to any of our meetings (see right hand side of the screen for details). Join our Facebook page and meet with other people in Coventry who care about public services. Part of our role at CATC is to highlight the alternatives to cutting public services like the NHS but we need more people to get active and support us. We can make a difference, as we have seen in some of our campaigns so far.

Waste Not Want Not Appeal Launched By Coventry Telegraph

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:37:00 +0000

A new campaign has been launched by a local newspaper aiming to feed the growing number of desperate people in Coventry who are becoming victims of the current economic situation.

The Waste Not Want Not campaign has been launched by the Coventry Telegraph in an effort to feed the alarming numbers of vulnerable people in Coventry. Increasing numbers of desperate people are descending upon a weekly soup kitchen in the city. Charity workers putting on the service are being overwhelmed as jobs disappear and deep public sector cuts strip away vital services for those most at risk. The campaign is urging shops, businesses and organisations to donate what they may otherwise throw away to hundreds of families who cannot afford to eat.

Recent stories have shown the effects of cuts in our city - homelessness and poverty on the increase and unemployment still rising. Sadly more and more people appear to be slipping through the net as changes to benefit cuts and the slashing of public services begin to take effect.

The Waste Not Want Not campaign aims to 'sign up' community-spirited businesses and organisations who pledge to provide whatever they can for those most at risk.

They could be supermarkets putting aside some surplus food, shops donating clothes and blankets or organisations putting forward a volunteer once-a-week.

Volunteers from the Anesis charity will arrange to pick up anything usable at a convenient time.

Just pickup the phone and call Kervin Julien on 077963 65615.

You can keep up-to-date by following @CovTel_WasteNot or liking the campaign on facebook.

Coventry Against The Cuts welcomes such campaigns like Waste Not Want Not, while at the same time fighting against EVERY cut to our public services. The people who caused the economic crisis should be the ones who pay - not the vulnerable people of Coventry. We will continue to oppose ALL the cuts and invite you to come and join us.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph/Martin Bagot

Why Coventry Sure Start Cuts Are Wrong

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:44:00 +0000

Coventry councillor Dave Nellist has spoken out about the councils plans to cut funding for Sure Start in the city. He described the proposal as 'defeatist' and explained why he is fundamentally opposed to the cuts, saying Coventry council could use some of the reserves to fund Sure Start - while building a united campaign to pressurise the government to fully fund this essential front-line service.

Here is the full article by Dave Nellist:

Earlier this year Coventry's Labour Council proposed to remove £1 million from the annual £1.8 million budget for day care at Sure Start centres. This was to plug a financial hole in other parts of the children's budget. The proposal caused an outcry from parents, and has resulted in a petition of over 3000 in opposition. The parents campaign was supported by local trades unionists, socialists, and other members of Coventry Against The Cuts.
Consultation finished at the weekend. In addition to attending the local consultation meeting in Hillfields, I submitted a response in support of the parents in their campaign. This is that response:

"I am fundamentally opposed to the reduction from full-time care to sessional care, and the ending of any care to the under twos. At a time of rising unemployment placing a further barrier in front of working parents is wrong.
I also think it is a fundamental mistake to limit services to those said to be the most disadvantaged. I believe bringing together children from mixed backgrounds and abilities would continue to be beneficial to all the children and parents attending. That, in fact, I understood to be the main ethos of Sure Start.
I do not agree that the Council should withdraw from this area of provision and place its hope in the private or voluntary sector filling the gap. I believe the experience, qualifications and commitment of our own staff should be recognised, valued and preserved - not cut in this way.
This plan to reduce the day care in our Sure Start Children's Centres is essentially defeatist; dressing it up in the language of 'improved access the most vulnerable children and families' does not hide it from the cut that it is.
The resources exist to 'hold the line'. The City Council currently has £11.5 million in unallocated reserves - half "to cover unforeseen financial problems" and half "to help manage further unforeseen issues". The Council could allocate £0.5 million in 2011/12 from those reserves and, if necessary, £1 million in 2012/13, whilst engaging with the parents, staff and local communities in the centres affected, and across the city as a whole, as part of a joint campaign to pressurise the government to fully fund this essential front-line service.
That would be the inclusive approach, passing on the Government's cuts without challenge will end up with the Council, rightly, sharing the blame.

The consultation report goes to a meeting of the Cabinet Member for Education next Wednesday, November 23rd at 1pm. I will be presenting the parents petition that day alongside the parents themselves.

If you're in Coventry why not come along to give them some support, the Cabinet Member's meeting is open to the public.

Sure Start campaigns are developing all over the country (this photo from Westminster) - Coventry Labour Council could be part of that national movement, but not whilst cutting half the day care service and the jobs locally.

*Source: Dave Nellist
* Support Coventry Sure Start Group

Bedworth Couple Die Over Benefits Hardship

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:31:00 +0000

The difficulty of getting the right benefits under Cameron's austerity Britain has been exposed as a local couple have died. Coventry Telegraph reporter Emma Stone has written this heartbreaking story about the Bedworth couple who experienced the hardship first hand. Here is her story.....

A MARRIED couple have been found dead in their Bedworth home following an apparent tragic suicide pact.

Mark and Helen Mullins were found lying side by side in their home in Henson Road, Bedworth.

Friends have spoken of the tragic couple’s struggle to access the correct benefits – leaving them living “hand to mouth” on food handouts from a Coventry soup kitchen which they walked five miles to each week.

Now charity workers are demanding to know how the “wonderful couple” were able to slip through the net and not get the support they needed from the state.

Police are investigating the deaths, which they say are being treated as “unexplained” at this stage.

Those who knew the couple believe they may have been there for up to two weeks before neighbours and relatives raised the alarm.

Salvation Army leader and leading Coventry charity worker Kervin Julien met the couple after they walked from Bedworth to Coventry to eat at a soup kitchen he ran in the city centre.

He said the pair made the 10-mile round trip on foot every week to eat and pick up a handout of food to take home.

Kervin told the Telegraph: “Mark talked about the difficulties they were having accessing the correct benefits. He also talked about the authorities taking Helen’s daughter away from her but not acknowledging her mental health problems.

“I did see Mark two or three weeks ago. He was really upset. He said he and Helen had been staying with relatives and friends to try and avoid the authorities, as they believed they wanted to section Helen.

“Mark was absolutely devoted to Helen and didn’t want to be separated from her – they just wanted support.

“I don’t agree with their decision but these were two people asking for help, and separation wasn’t an option.

“The question needs to be asked – why was it they felt they had no-one else to turn to that they decided on the course of action they did?

"It’s sad that in this day and age we have still got prehistoric services that are not meeting the needs of the people who need them.

“What we have doesn’t work and we must fix it. There is a shortfall in the mental health services.”

Mark and Helen Mullins Interview (courtesy of Rick Medlock)

Chillingly Mark and Helen were interviewed at the Coventry soup kitchen last year and spoke of the troubles they were having, which has since been posted online.

Mark, who had previously served in the army and was in his late 40s, told the interviewer the pair were having to live on a very small income. He explained they had been forced to live in just one room of their home and survived on food handouts given to them.

Mark said: “Last year they took Helen’s youngest daughter from her and gave her to relatives to be looked after.

“The job centre decided Helen couldn’t sign on as she was incapable of employment, as she has no literacy and numeracy skills. However the incapacity people wouldn’t recognise her disabilities until she has been properly diagnosed, which led to month after month of seeing specialists, we’re in a catch 22 situation.

“We’re living hand to mouth.”

Mark added the pair made a broth from the weekly handouts of vegetables given to them at the Coventry soup kitchen and lived on it for the entire week.

“They cooked the food on a single gas ring and kept the produce outside as they did not have a fridge.

Reacting to the news of the couple’s death, Kervin added: “They were an absolutely wonderful couple.

"They were softly spoken and very grateful. They were kind-hearted, loving people.

“Our sympathies, concerns and prayers are with their families.”

A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: “Post mortem examinations have been conducted on the bodies of a man and a woman which were found at an address in Henson Road, Bedworth, on Thursday November 4.

“The results are inconclusive and police are now waiting for toxicology tests to establish how the two people died.

“They are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, which are being treated as unexplained at this time.”

NEIGHBOURS in Henson Road yesterday spoke of their shock as news of the double tragedy spread.

Worried neighbours and relatives were among those who raised the alarm after realising they had not seen the couple for weeks.

One nearby resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I phoned the police over a week ago, because I was concerned that I had not seen Helen or Mark for some time.

“I used to notice them regularly walking up the street but I had not seen anything of them since early October and their car had not moved off the drive.

“Apparently, the police called at their house after my call and although they did not get any reply, they did not spot anything unduly suspicious.

“When they turned up again on Thursday an officer told me that a relative had also been in touch. This time they forced their way in through a rear door and found Helen and Mark dead.

“It is a real tragedy. Helen had some learning difficulties but was a lovely lady.

"Her and Mark kept themselves pretty much to themselves but used to go out walking a lot.”

Another neighbour said: “Mark told me he had once been a physical education instructor in the army and that he and Helen had married three years ago, which is about the same time they moved into the house.

“I think they had relatives living in Northamptonshire. They used to go in the car to visit them and the last time I spoke with Mark he said they were planning another trip soon.

“But I had not seen either of them for a few weeks.

“It was quite a shock when we saw all the police activity and forensic officers in white suits going into the house.

"Then the council arrived to put steel shutters over all the windows.

“We are all quite upset over what has happened.”

Source: Coventry Telegraph/Emma Stone/Mike Malyon

Coventry Telegraph: Stand Up For NHS Meeting Report

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Coventry TUC held a public meeting about the future of the NHS and Coventry Telegraph health reporter Warren Manger delivered this report on the meeting:

CAMPAIGNERS began their defence of the NHS at a packed public meeting in Coventry last night.

Dozens of people filled the Central Methodist Hall in Warwick Lane to oppose the Health and Social Care Bill, which is currently passing through the House of Lords.

They fear the plans spell the end of free health care which is currently available to everyone equally on the NHS.

Instead many services will be farmed out to private firms which will try to squeeze large profits out of the £100billion the government currently spends on the NHS every year, they warn.

Dr Ron Singer, president of the medical practitioners union, said: “Aneurin Bevan said the NHS would last as long as people were prepared to stand up for it. Now I say it is our turn.”

The Bill is the biggest change to the NHS in its 60-year history. It centres around the government’s determination to make firms compete to provide NHS services and so slash the cost of healthcare.

Campaigners warn that means fewer services and lower quality care for patients. They predict the NHS will eventually become a second-rate back-up for those too poor to buy private treatment.

Campaigners also warn the Bill means:

* The health secretary will no longer be accountable for providing an NHS;

* GPs will have to weigh their duty to their patients against balancing the books and the financial rewards for doing so;

* There will be a rise in patients and private firms taking the NHS to court to challenge competition laws.

Sergio Requena-Rueda, president of Coventry Trades Union Council (TUC) who chaired last night’s meeting, said: “I come from Chile. Now I no longer feel homesick.

“In my country when you feel ill and go to hospital the first thing you do is give them a blank cheque. Any medication is put on your bill and when you leave it is like going to the till at the supermarket.

“Soon it will be the same in this country.”

Speakers at the meeting also pointed to the cuts already being made in Coventry and Warwickshire as part of a £20billion efficiency drive, warning that worse was to come if the Bill was allowed to proceed.

Last year health chiefs in Warwickshire postponed hundreds of operations to save money, causing huge problems for patients and hospitals.

There have also been recruitment freezes and hospital bosses are planning to close a ward at the St Cross in Rugby to save £1million per year.

Coventry City Councillor, Faye Abbott said the health bill and the huge cuts already underway proved David Cameron could not be trusted to protect the NHS, despite his promises to do so.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph/Warren Manger

Coventry TUC: Public Meeting - Defend The NHS

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:22:00 +0000

A public meeting will be taking place at the Methodist Central Hall in Coventry tonight aimed at informing the public about the proposed transformation of the National Health Service. Organised by the Coventry Trades Council, Sergio Requena-Rueda will chair the meeting, which includes Dr Ron Singer - President of the Medical Practitioners Union (a sector of Unite the Union). Joining them on the panel will be Coventry Labour councillor Faye Abbott, who is responsible for Health and Care, Coventry City Council and Frank Keogh who is the Union Convener at George Elliott Hospital, Nuneaton.

Everyone is invited to attend and use the opportunity to hear and understand the case against the coalition government's proposals to destroy the NHS as it stands today. The plans will effect everyone in Coventry and will worsen health care provision, unless you are rich enough to afford private health care.

The proposed bill will bring us a system of healthcare based on the USA model, where private healthcare multinationals' priority is not the equal care of the sick but 'making big bucks'. The USA health system costs more than TWICE the NHS and leaves a permanent 40m without any cover and at any given time many more millions who are between jobs or unemployed.

If you care about the NHS, come along to the Methodist Central Hall today (Thurs 3rd November 2011) at 19:30 and join others in defending the NHS from being sold off.

Anger As Council Plan To Axe Six Sure Start Centres

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Coventry Against The Cuts spoke to Sam Lyle (Save Our Children's Centres campaigner) about the councils plans, Sam told us, "The Council's rationale behind its choice for which children's centres could be ear marked for closure is a disgrace the implication being that wealthier parents have a monopoly on good parenting skills, this is deeply insulting to poorer parents." Sam already has over 3,000 people who have signed the petition over Sure Start cuts and explained, "All new parents need support and services, in fact parents who are graduates and therefore presumed to be wealthier are often isolated as their jobs have taken them away from family networks and friends are largely in full time work whilst they find themselves on maternity leave."

Comments made by Councillor Jim O'Boyle saying, “The families we want to target do not go to these six centres in wealthier areas....Where there are pockets of deprivation in those areas, people can still travel to use other centres.” have enraged parents like Sam, who replied, "Parents who currently use these centres have been angered by the slow demise of the services previously offered here, the Council has been running these services into the ground by stealth for some time now. We must stop dividing parents into rich and poor and recognise that their are commonalities of experiences which narrowly targeting and stigmatising services cannot recognise. These suggested closure further promotes social segregation in our city."

If you want to support the 'Save Our Children's Centres' sign their petition and contact the group if you would like to offer help in their campaign against the Sure Start closures.

Little wonder one angry mum commented about the proposed closure of six Sure Start centres, "A Labour Council proposing yet more cuts that rip the heart out of the Sure Start program - a disgrace - what are they doing to challenge the governments cuts, where is their anger?" Coventry's Labour led council have so far refused to fight government cuts, instead as the little axe men - will pass those cuts on, saying they have no choice. One of the Sure Start centres under threat of closure is the newly built Coundon Sure Start, which only opened 2 years ago, at a cost of £500,000.

Read the exclusive Coventry Telegraph story by Les Reid below for more on this story......

SIX children’s centres for the under-fives in Coventry face the axe under cuts plans, the Telegraph can reveal today.

The council has identified Sure Start children’s centres in six better-off areas for potential closure.

The proposals were outlined behind closed doors to Coventry City Council’s ruling Labour councillors by children’s services director Colin Green on Monday night.

The six are in Whoberley, Earlsdon, Finham, Wyken, Coundon and Cheylesmore.

The city’s 20 council-run Sure Start centres are used by thousands of families for a range of services – from childcare and educational sessions, to parenting classes.

Sure Start closures elsewhere in the country – in response to government funding cuts to councils – have attracted widespread protests.

Entirely separate Coventry council proposals to cut back on nursery day care at 10 of the centres – just a small part of what Sure Start centres do – have already attracted opposition and over 3,000 people have signed a petition during a current public consultation.

Complete closures of the six centres – where there is no nursery provision – go well beyond the nursery cuts proposals.

The Telegraph exclusively revealed in July that children’s centres could be closed down under a “fundamental service review” by council officers seeking to reverse a £4.2million deficit in its children’s services department.

On Monday, Mr Green outlined the first early findings in the ongoing review. Final recommendations are not expected until next year.

Labour councillor Jim O’Boyle, children’s services cabinet member, confirmed the six centres have been potentially identified for closure.

He gave a robust defence of the strategy, saying centre closures in better-off areas – where there were lower needs – would help target limited funding at vulnerable families who need it most in deprived areas.

The review is seeking to cut the rising number of children going into care which has caused the deficit – mainly though legal bills in court proceedings, and expensive placements of children outside the city.

Nearly 600 children were placed in care in 2010/11. The review has identified cutting that number by 70, producing £2.8million savings, partly by measures to boost foster carers and adopting families in the city.

About £200,000 estimated savings in staff from the six centre closures would contribute towards more outreach work – with roving “early intervention teams” of social workers and other staff going into homes of families with problems.

Leaders believe early intervention work – boosted by £2.2million extra this year – to prevent problems developing is key to cutting the number of children in care.

What Coventry City Council said:

Councillor Jim O’Boyle said: “The families we want to target do not go to these six centres in wealthier areas. It’s not about buildings.

“We want to go and help the children and families most in need in their own homes.

“Where there are pockets of deprivation in those areas, people can still travel to use other centres.”

Councillor O’Boyle said the former Labour government had under invested in its Sure Start centres, and some including the Whoberley centre in Wildcroft Road were open just one day a week for a few hours.

Other centres such as the Coundon centre in Forfield Road only opened two years ago in a £500,000 purpose-built building.

It has offered child care, early education classes, parenting classes, a baby massage group and a community midwife service.

The coalition government has cut £5million from Coventry City Council’s £20million funding for Sure Start, child care and early years learning.

Some buildings would stay open as they are also used by other services.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph / Les Reid

Coventry Sure Start Campaign On Road To Victory

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:15:00 +0000

The battle against Sure Start cuts scored a victory this week as Coventry council, controlled by Labour, said they would look into ways of sparing some of the services that are under threat. A consultation is currently being undertaken and we encourage everyone to make their views known. You can read more details on the Coventry City Council website, meanwhile have a read of the report by Les Reid in the Coventry Telegraph about the story so far........ Well done to Sam Lyle and the team for all their hard work!

CAMPAIGNERS against planned children’s centre cuts in Coventry have vowed to fight on, despite a partial climbdown by city council leaders.

Opposition councillors have joined parents in questioning a partial U-turn by Labour leaders over £1million cuts plans at Sure Start children’s centre nurseries.

As revealed in yesterday’s Telegraph, Labour cabinet member Lynnette Kelly is now seeking to rescue some services from the axe following widespread protests, including a 2,500-name petition.

Instead of ending all full-time nursery care for under-fives at the council’s 10 Sure Start centres, she said some could win a reprieve – in communities with a shortage of private nursery places.

Alternative part-time sessions could also be extended to help working parents when a public consultation ends next month.

The news was welcomed by leading campaigner Sam Lyle, who uses the Tile Hill centre nursery. But she pledged the campaign would continue to call for extending nursery services, not cutting back to only part-time care targeted at “vulnerable” families.

Socialist councillor Dave Nellist said Coun Kelly’s move highlighted the value of families fighting back against cuts.

But he is urging Coventry City Council’s Labour leaders to stand up more to the government’s 27 per cent funding cuts to councils, rather than simply passing on cuts to communities.

He share the view of campaigners that Sure Start nurseries for people from all backgrounds - with better paid and qualified staff - raise standards in the increasingly privatised care sector.

Coun Nellist said council officers should have assessed private nursery provision in all communities before the consultation started, as part of an equalities impact assessment.

Conservative councillor Kevin Foster, opposition leader, said: “It’s credit to a very well fought campaign by Sam Lyle and other parents.

“Labour’s original cuts plan for the nurseries were deeper than government funding cuts. We will wait to see what the precise proposals are.”

Tory councillors have been accused of hypocrisy for not actively opposing the coalition government’s 20 per cent (£5million) grant cut for early years learning, with Lib Dem councillor Russell Field also backing campaigners.

Council leaders say coalition cuts mean they can no longer subsidise full-time nurseries, and are being forced to follow Tory policy of targeting funds at those most in need.

Nurseries are a small part of Sure Start services. More cuts plans later this month could include closing some centres.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph / Les Reid

Corley Centre Kids Protest About Planned Funding Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:03:00 +0000

Another Coventry Telegraph story about the effects of the austerity spending cuts hits home this week that the vulnerable become the victims of public sector cuts. Coventry Against The Cuts opposes ALL cuts and continues to fight them - school by school, library by library. Children and parents at Corley special school should not be punished because of the governments ideological programme. Read the Coventry Telegraph article below and join us in the fight back.....

PARENTS and children protesting over planned cuts at a special school have handed in a 1,400-name petition to the council.

Joined by opposition councillors, they say proposals to axe residential care at the Corley Centre for special needs will harm children’s development.

Coventry City Council’s Labour leaders, faced with massive 27 per cent government funding cuts, say overnight stays are not a necessary part of the pupils’ education, as they have not been written into their “statements” of need.

But angry parents have accused the council of deliberately omitting from statements the residential care children receive – to avoid its legal obligations as a precursor for cuts.

Sarah Gill, whose autistic 14-year-old son Louis attends the school in Church Lane, Corley, said: “I chose the school because it’s known for autism and because it has residential care facilities.

“Louis had never stayed away from home, and I thought it would good for him to learn independence skills away from the family. He has come on tremendously.

“He doesn’t have friends outside school, and children with special needs need extra support to learn social skills and communication in a stable and safe environment.”

Nathan Rice, aged 16, now at college after years of using Corley’s boarding facilities, said: “It was life-changing and fundamental to my education. The activities bring people together.”

Corley Protest outside Coventry Council House (pic by Dave Nellist)

Socialist councillor Dave Nellist said: “I know the government is cutting funding to councils but the Labour council in Coventry is getting a reputation for passing on those cuts with no resistance.

“They keep saying the coalition is cutting too deep and fast. Here’s another example of how they could use a £6million budget underspend to hold the line and help families.” Tory councillor Susanna Dixon said: “Many of the children are in the autistic spectrum and need continuity. The change is upsetting.”

Parents say the school’s after-school club would also lose its funding from the £384,000 cuts proposal currently out to public consultation.

The school has 72 children, and 27 places for its boarding house. It is deemed by watchdog Ofsted to be “good”. Pupils get one overnight stay a week in groups of eight.

Labour councillor Lynnette Kelly, education cabinet member, says the £384,000 would not be cut from the limited special needs education budget, but would go towards staffing at planned new special schools.

Corley Centre pupils would still get independence and social skills training in other ways, she says, while pupils’ statements were drawn up by educational psychologists.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph / top pic: CT / Story by Les Reid

Housing Cuts Cost Coventry Taxpayers

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:16:00 +0000

The government cuts to housing benefits are now beginning to have an effect in Coventry - this week the Coventry Telegraph highlighted that £800,000 has already been spent putting families into hotels because of the lack of social housing. Here is the full story by Les Reid:

MORE than £800,000 a year is being spent on putting up homeless people in hotels in Coventry – because of a lack of cheaper accommodation.

The most expensive accommodation used at taxpayers’ expense is the £180 per night Britannia Hotel in Fairfax Street, city centre.

It was provided because Coventry City Council could not find cheaper alternative beds for one family with four young children.

Almost £1,700 was spent to temporarily house the family over 10 days, when privately rented accommodation could not be secured.

The council says the family would have otherwise been forced to sleep on the streets – because suitable bed and breakfasts and other accommodation across the city was fully booked.

More than £200,000 was spent on 181 homeless cases – single people or families – between July and September alone, a similar figure to the same three months last year. Accommodation was mainly bed and breakfast in hotels.

Nearly 90 per cent of the cash was paid for by Housing Benefit.

The council uses six standard B&Bs. If they are full they use hotels including ABC, Ibis and Formula One.

We reported in July the number of families and single people reporting as homeless soared in the economic downturn last year by 25 per cent, to an estimated 2,000

It comes amid a shortage of affordable housing, government cuts to councils’ funding, and post-recession stagnation which continues to threaten people’s homes and livelihoods. Housing Benefit is also being cut to some claimants.

We have also revealed people on Coventry’s housing waiting list has soared by a third in a year to 22,000.

Labour councillor Tony Skipper, housing cabinet member, accepted homelessness is a rising problem in Coventry and nationwide – including among large families.

He said two new emergency accommodation schemes were being developed – a Salvation Army hostel project, and a £6million Whitefriars Housing Association scheme for 60 rooms by December 2013, to replace the Chace Hostel in Willenhall.

But he said government funding cuts for social housing, benefits and councils were contributing to “a return to Victorian times”.

Changes to the council’s homelessness services would target limited finances on helping to prevent people become homeless, he said. Work includes agencies offering debt advice. Socialist councillor Dave Nellist called on the Labour-run council to press for more public ownership of housing – including better use of 3,800 empty homes in Coventry.

It could help reduce spending on emergency accommodation in expensive hotels, he said.

He also criticised the city’s lack of homeless accommodation for single women and their families, as the only direct access hostel places are men only.

Coun Skipper said he hoped two more temporary officers could help deal with a backlog of homeless cases waiting for accommodation – which currently stands at 74.

*Source: Coventry Telegraph

Coventry Youth Protest Over Jobs And Education

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:48:00 +0000

As the Jarrow March arrived in Coventry, Cara Simpson for the Coventry Telegraph reported this story .....

YOUNG protesters staged a vocal demo through Coventry city centre as part of the national Jarrow March anniversary campaign.

It saw more than 100 young people walk from the cathedral steps through Smithford Way and Shelton Square on Saturday in a desperate call for more jobs for young people.

About 20 had arrived in Coventry on Friday after walking from the south Tyneside town to Coventry over three weeks for 12 hours per day.

They are marching all the way to London to relive the Depression-era Jarrow march for the 75th anniversary of the original protest, and expect to reach the capital in two weeks’ time.

They walked to Coventry’s Central Methodist Hall on Saturday chanting “We won’t be a lost generation. Fight for jobs and education”, while waving placards with the messages “For real jobs”, “Stop the cuts” and “Bring back the EMA” – the axed Education Maintenance Allowance which helped deprived students fund their way through college.

The protest saw local young people join forces with anti-cuts campaigners and councillors.

Lenny Shail, a local 21-year-old Communication Workers Union youth officer, was among them. He said the demonstration was a way for young people to voice their fears and stand up for the needs of working class people.

“The fact is there are one million unemployed people across England,” he said as the protesters met outside the cathedral.

“There are 20,000 unemployed across Coventry and Warwickshire, 10,000 in Coventry and of those 3,000 young people.

“Coventry was once a champion for working class people, now many are on the dole or working for the minimum wage or less.

“We say there should be more jobs and more homes for decent working class people. The working class are being made to pay for a crisis caused by the bankers.

“We want to see a future for today’s young people.”

Sean Figg, a Jarrow March organiser for the Socialist Party, said: “The march is about harnessing the anger of young people who feel ignored and forgotten.

"Young people want to feel heard and represented.”

Fellow Jarrow Marcher, Bobbie Crannie, aged 26, of Newcastle, said: “It’s been a lot of hard work walking for 12 hours a day and sleeping on people’s floors but I can honestly say it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done.

"I feel like I’m making a difference and even though it might not change the world, hopefully it will inspire other young people. I’m unemployed and worried about my future.”

*Source: Coventry Telegraph

Coventry NHS Public Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:50:00 +0000

PUBLIC MEETING

THURSDAY November 3rd

7.30pm

Methodist Central Hall, COVENTRY

SPEAKERS:

DR. RON SINGER, PRESIDENT of the MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS UNION,

a sector of UNITE the UNION.

Coventry Local Medical Committee (BMA) Secretary - Invited

This is your opportunity to hear and understand the case against the Coalition Government’s proposals to destroy the NHS as we have known it. This will affect and worsen the health care of everyone in the country, except of course those who are rich enough to afford private health care.

The proposed bill will bring us a system of healthcare based on the USA model where the private healthcare multinationals’ priority is not the equal care of the sick but `making big bucks`. The USA health system costs more than twice the NHS and leaves a permanent 40 million without any cover and at any given time many more millions who are between jobs or unemployed.

You are invited to this meeting and urged to bring anyone along as this affects you and all your neighbours, friends and family.

BE THERE!!

Coventry Disabled Hit Hard By Council Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:42:00 +0000

A report by Warren Manger in the Coventry Telegraph has highlighted the effects that £38m worth of cuts are having on sections of our community in Coventry. The article showed that Coventry was 'poor' in how it was coping with the first year of cuts. Coventry Against The Cuts have repeatedly warned that the vulnerable, disabled and elderly would be the targets as the government (and council) forced through austerity cuts. Here is the Coventry Telegraph story.....

COVENTRY is coping poorly with cuts to services for disabled people, a think tank has claimed.

However, social care directors have dismissed the findings published by Demos as ‘sensationalism’.

The report, which was funded by disability charity Scope, claims Coventry is coping poorly despite making only low level cuts.

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope, said disabled people felt worse hit by budget cuts than most.

“We know every council has to make cuts and there is no simple way to protect front-line services,” he admitted.

However, he said not enough councils had taken creative steps to protect and improve services.

Social services have been hit hard by the budget cuts the government has demanded from local councils.

Coventry City Council is making historic cuts of £38million this year.

The Demos report paints a bleak picture of the impact this is having.

It claims the council’s adult care budget had fallen by more than nine per cent and its elderly care budget by more than four per cent.

CATC: Defending Front-line Services

But Mark Godfrey, assistant director of adult social care, said Coventry City Council did not recognise those figures or understand how Demos had calculated them.

However, he said other aspects of the report were correct.

For example, the hourly cost of day care and home care have risen four per cent. The city council also considers a person’s entire disability living allowance when deciding how much they pay for services.

Mr Godfrey said the council was disappointed with its ‘poor’ rating as it was committed to protecting vulnerable people in the city in a challenging environment.

Despite its poor rating, Coventry has performed considerably better than similar cities in the report.

Whereas Coventry ranked 92nd in the national league table, Wolverhampton came 123rd and Stoke on Trent came 133rd.

City councillor Ed Ruane said that this showed Coventry was coping as best it could, despite clearly being hard hit by the funding settlement.

He said: “We are coping and want to do better, but clearly Government cuts make this very hard.”

However the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services was highly critical of the Scope report as it said claims that care was a “broken sector” were nothing new.

President Peter Hay said: “Rather than helping directors work their way through making imaginative responses to the reduction of public spending, the whole report is ruined by a relentless focus on sensationalism.

“This distracts from a report which could have been used to work with people with disability.”

*Source: Coventry Telegraph

March And Rally 'Manchester For The Alternative' Details

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:41:00 +0000

Join us at the TUC’s March and Rally outside the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to show opposition to the Coalition Government’s disastrous ideological policies of pay freezes, cuts and attacks on public services that are producing rising unemployment, cuts in living standards and stagnation.

Sunday 2 October 2011

Transport by Coventry TUC

Coventry Swimming Bath @ 8.30am

Fairfax Street, CV1 5RY.

To book seats phone: 07 799 34 05 59

Fare £3/unwaged donation.

Please book asap to see if we need to book another coach.

Speakers include Len McCluskey Unite, Paul Kenny GMB, Christine Blower NUT,

Bob Crow RMT, Mary Bousted ATL, Rena Wood Unison, + Community Speakers

We would like to see as many union members and families as possible joining us
on the day.

Say NO to unfair and unnecessary spending cuts.

VIDEO: Coventry UNISON - The Pension Myths

noreply@blogger.com (robmacca) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:53:00 +0000

Coventry branch of Unison set the record straight in this video about the myth of gold plated pensions. It soon becomes clear that this government plans to force workers to pay more, work longer and receive less to pay for the banker's greed.

The video was made by the Coventry District Branch of UNISON and supported by Coventry School of Samba in Coventry city centre on Saturday 10th September 2011. Fair pensions for all is something worth standing up for, and this is why millions of workers will be taking a stand on November 30th. This government is not listening and this is why the voice of millions needs to get louder and louder, in united mass action.