Lib Dems oppose 'damaging' Big Issue funding cut

4.01.18pm GMT Fri 17th Dec 2004

Liberal Democrats are opposing the City Council's funding cut to the Big Issue Foundation. The charity will lose £75,000 towards its work.

The Council argues that the work undertaken is attracting additional homeless people to the City.

Speaking at yesterday's Housing Committee, Councillor David Watkins said: 'We are not at all happy about this and see it as a damaging funding cut. It sends out all the wrong messages and will have an adverse affect on the provision of homelessness services in the City. At the very minimum this should be a phased withdrawal of funding.'

Lib Dem Councillor Paul Elgood added: 'We strongly oppose what is a significant cut of funding. The Big Issue Foundation is doing critical work locally and the argument that it is having an adverse effect on the homelessness issue locally is wrong and misleading. The Council should be working to ensure that the Foundation is delivering the service in the way it wants and not just withdrawing its funding.