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| Northern stars are right about one thing: it is all grim | Northern stars are right about one thing: it is all grim |
| (8 days later) | |
| Newcastle city council's consultation on our 2013-16 budget has generated concern, and not a little anger, from artists, directors and actors (Northern stars protest at 'disastrous' arts cuts in Newcastle; Letters, 17 December). I want to make it clear that I share their anger. | Newcastle city council's consultation on our 2013-16 budget has generated concern, and not a little anger, from artists, directors and actors (Northern stars protest at 'disastrous' arts cuts in Newcastle; Letters, 17 December). I want to make it clear that I share their anger. |
| The cuts that we and other cities are forced to consider are a direct result of the government's austerity programme. The deliberate and politically motivated skewing of cuts to the major cities, and other areas with relatively high levels of poverty, is a scandal. It is those very cities that have seen the flourishing of cultural institutions and creativity that the government is putting at so much risk. | The cuts that we and other cities are forced to consider are a direct result of the government's austerity programme. The deliberate and politically motivated skewing of cuts to the major cities, and other areas with relatively high levels of poverty, is a scandal. It is those very cities that have seen the flourishing of cultural institutions and creativity that the government is putting at so much risk. |
| We are forced to consider radical cuts to council funding for arts institutions. But this is not an isolated decision in Newcastle. We've simply set out the inevitable consequences of the decisions that ministers are taking. Indeed, the Conservative-led Local Government Association has warned that funding by councils of arts and other non-statutory services will have to be cut to zero if the austerity programme continues as the government plans. The government's response? Even more cuts in the autumn statement. | We are forced to consider radical cuts to council funding for arts institutions. But this is not an isolated decision in Newcastle. We've simply set out the inevitable consequences of the decisions that ministers are taking. Indeed, the Conservative-led Local Government Association has warned that funding by councils of arts and other non-statutory services will have to be cut to zero if the austerity programme continues as the government plans. The government's response? Even more cuts in the autumn statement. |
| Newcastle understands better than most the economic and social value of our cultural investments. We will do all we can to preserve these assets, through greater involvement of business, efficiencies in how cultural institutions are operated, and by encouraging an active community response. But what I cannot do – legally and morally – is divert even more resources from the priority services for vulnerable adults and children. | Newcastle understands better than most the economic and social value of our cultural investments. We will do all we can to preserve these assets, through greater involvement of business, efficiencies in how cultural institutions are operated, and by encouraging an active community response. But what I cannot do – legally and morally – is divert even more resources from the priority services for vulnerable adults and children. |
| I would encourage our friends with a commitment to the diverse culture of England's cities and regions to stand up and be counted at national level, where the message needs to be heard loud and clear. Cllr Nick Forbes Leader, Newcastle city council | I would encourage our friends with a commitment to the diverse culture of England's cities and regions to stand up and be counted at national level, where the message needs to be heard loud and clear. Cllr Nick Forbes Leader, Newcastle city council |
| • The "northern stars" mistakenly draw a comparison with the council's planned capital programme. This cannot be used to maintain revenue expenditure on the arts, or indeed on the other services the council has built up over the years. After years of efficiency savings and cuts, Newcastle is faced with reducing its budget by a third over three years. By the end of the decade, unless there is a change at national level the city will be able to fund only basic statutory services. | • The "northern stars" mistakenly draw a comparison with the council's planned capital programme. This cannot be used to maintain revenue expenditure on the arts, or indeed on the other services the council has built up over the years. After years of efficiency savings and cuts, Newcastle is faced with reducing its budget by a third over three years. By the end of the decade, unless there is a change at national level the city will be able to fund only basic statutory services. |
| Responsibility for the damage to local communities, as valued services are savagely cut to balance a government-determined budget, lies with ministers. Their attitude was illustrated by Lord Younger, answering questions on this very issue, when he declared that Windsor and Maidenhead received less grant per head than Newcastle. The northern stars, and others facing similar demands to square the financial circle, need to press the government to change course. Jeremy Beecham Labour, House of Lords | Responsibility for the damage to local communities, as valued services are savagely cut to balance a government-determined budget, lies with ministers. Their attitude was illustrated by Lord Younger, answering questions on this very issue, when he declared that Windsor and Maidenhead received less grant per head than Newcastle. The northern stars, and others facing similar demands to square the financial circle, need to press the government to change course. Jeremy Beecham Labour, House of Lords |
| • In addition to the 100% cut to arts funding and the closure of 11 of Newcastle's 18 public libraries are the disappearances of both the play service and the youth service, and the closure of some city pools, leaving children and young people without leisure, cultural or community facilities. In a city that will be disproportionately affected by unemployment because of the high number of public service employees facing redundancy, there is little for young people to be optimistic about. Through the fantastic range of activities the libraries, theatres and museums have been able to offer in the past, young people have had opportunities to extend their hopes and dreams. This Labour council threatens to take all this away from them. It will be grim up north. Pat Beesley Newcastle upon Tyne | • In addition to the 100% cut to arts funding and the closure of 11 of Newcastle's 18 public libraries are the disappearances of both the play service and the youth service, and the closure of some city pools, leaving children and young people without leisure, cultural or community facilities. In a city that will be disproportionately affected by unemployment because of the high number of public service employees facing redundancy, there is little for young people to be optimistic about. Through the fantastic range of activities the libraries, theatres and museums have been able to offer in the past, young people have had opportunities to extend their hopes and dreams. This Labour council threatens to take all this away from them. It will be grim up north. Pat Beesley Newcastle upon Tyne |
| • The artists make no alternative suggestions for funding cuts. Maybe they feel that care for the elderly or vulnerable should be cut, or rubbish left piling up in the streets? As the signatories all recognise the part local authority funding played in their considerable success, maybe they should see the £2.5m annual culture budget cut as a chance to "put something back" into their original communities. The royalties from Police and Roxy Music's considerable output could go a long way towards this. Tim Matthews Luton | • The artists make no alternative suggestions for funding cuts. Maybe they feel that care for the elderly or vulnerable should be cut, or rubbish left piling up in the streets? As the signatories all recognise the part local authority funding played in their considerable success, maybe they should see the £2.5m annual culture budget cut as a chance to "put something back" into their original communities. The royalties from Police and Roxy Music's considerable output could go a long way towards this. Tim Matthews Luton |
| • I presume arts organisations in my city can at least rely on any of the millionaires among the signatories who are still UK-domiciled for tax purposes donating their savings from the 5p in the pound cut to the top rate of tax. I must have missed that edition of the Guardian when they wrote expressing their "alarm" at Osborne's budget. Andrew Feeney Newcastle upon Tyne | • I presume arts organisations in my city can at least rely on any of the millionaires among the signatories who are still UK-domiciled for tax purposes donating their savings from the 5p in the pound cut to the top rate of tax. I must have missed that edition of the Guardian when they wrote expressing their "alarm" at Osborne's budget. Andrew Feeney Newcastle upon Tyne |
| • It's tragic to see the potential decimation of years of work to give the culture of the north-east a voice nationally. The cuts may be notionally confined to Newcastle but they will affect arts organisations across the region as other councils consider their budgets. Newcastle is the regional capital and where it leads others will be tempted to follow. Peter Chapman London | • It's tragic to see the potential decimation of years of work to give the culture of the north-east a voice nationally. The cuts may be notionally confined to Newcastle but they will affect arts organisations across the region as other councils consider their budgets. Newcastle is the regional capital and where it leads others will be tempted to follow. Peter Chapman London |
| • Here in Birmingham we face a similar budget meltdown. The reason is clear: a savage shift of budget support from cities outside London and the south. Combine this with no local independent tax powers to speak of and we face the end of local government as we know it. This is not hyperbole. The Conservative-dominated government appears bent on reducing councils to residual social services bodies incapable of supporting wider activity such as arts and heritage. Those who attack their councils for facing impossible choices should get on to Downing Street. Cllr Phil Davis Birmingham | • Here in Birmingham we face a similar budget meltdown. The reason is clear: a savage shift of budget support from cities outside London and the south. Combine this with no local independent tax powers to speak of and we face the end of local government as we know it. This is not hyperbole. The Conservative-dominated government appears bent on reducing councils to residual social services bodies incapable of supporting wider activity such as arts and heritage. Those who attack their councils for facing impossible choices should get on to Downing Street. Cllr Phil Davis Birmingham |
| • The proposed zero arts budget is all the more inexcusable coming from a Labour administration elected in the belief that it would respond sensibly and fairly to the savage funding cuts from central government. Isn't it the Tories who are supposed to be the Philistines? Richard Giles Tynemouth | • The proposed zero arts budget is all the more inexcusable coming from a Labour administration elected in the belief that it would respond sensibly and fairly to the savage funding cuts from central government. Isn't it the Tories who are supposed to be the Philistines? Richard Giles Tynemouth |
| • Not one single criticism in that letter of those who instigated the draconian cuts in the first place. The Tories must be laughing their socks off. Bill Carey Woodbridge, Suffolk | • Not one single criticism in that letter of those who instigated the draconian cuts in the first place. The Tories must be laughing their socks off. Bill Carey Woodbridge, Suffolk |
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