by John Dolan, Enfield and Lea Valley Socialist Party
Enfield campaigners held a People’s Budget conference in north London on 22 February.
Photo: Sarah Sachs Eldridge
Enfield Council has over £75 million in reserves, plus is trumpeting an extra £203 million ‘Fair Funding Review’ money – the majority comes from raising our council taxes. But still Enfield Labour council is planning £12 million of more cuts!
The event was supported by the local trades union council, the Socialist Party, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), Enfield Community Independents (ECI), and Your Party supporters. Local Socialist Party member Oscar launched the conference.
Catherine explained how council cuts are making life even more difficult for disabled people. The Labour council is planning to kick 1,500 disabled people off the Enfield housing waiting list.
Nick, a housing worker at Enfield Council, spoke about rogue private landlords. Taylan from the ‘Kurdish and Turkish Electoral Alternative’ called for democratic control of the council to help achieve our needed housing rights. Taylan is standing in the elections to challenge the council.
Paul from Unite the Union housing workers branch gave an informative presentation on housing, detailing the current shortfall. He pointed the way forward – rent freezes for council tenants, wider rent control, and mass building of council homes. Paul is standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in the Enfield council elections.
Right2Thrive campaigns against youth unemployment locally. Colin detailed its damaging effects.
Khalid from Enfield Community Independents said that council cuts are not necessary. Enfield Council was the master developer for housebuilding at the new Meridian Water estate. This alone could have solved the local housing crisis.
Socialist Party members said Enfield Labour council could provide the necessary services to lift all people out of poverty, and give us secure homes to live in.
The meeting drew up a demands list, from the issues raised at this conference, and agreed to present it to the Labour council budget-setting on 26 February.
This campaign will carry on up to this May’s full council elections – TUSC and ECI are standing anti-austerity candidates – and will continue beyond this to fight for the services we need.