|
12.11.04
Local Lib Dem Councillors Laura Edge and Lynne Featherstone have called on
Haringey Council to safeguard the future of the popular and longstanding 101
Playgroup in Tottenham Lane following a proposed increase in its rates from
£3,000 per annum to £9,650.
The staggering 300% rise reflects a change Haringey Council's policy whereby
charities and community associations are charged market rates for leasing
council property.
Such groups were previously charged only peppercorn rents
but Haringey Council has now moved to providing what it says is more transparent
support through grant funding.
However, as Cllr Edge has discovered, in an
apparent failure of joined-up thinking, no additional funding has currently
been earmarked for the Council's Education Services to provide playgroups
such as 101 with the support which they will desperately need in the face of
such enormous rent increases.
The 101 Playgroup, which has been in Hornsey for 16 years and has
consistently received excellent Ofsted reports, is running to capacity and
has a waiting list. Being a small charitable group with places for
only 43 children it would be unable to sustain the proposed rent hike and,
without alternative support would almost undoubtedly face closure.
Laura Edge and Lynne Featherstone have joined local parents in expressing
anxiety over the current situation and have called on Haringey Council to earmark
funding to safeguard the future of playgroups such as the 101 at the
earliest opportunity.
Laura Edge comments:
"I have received numerous calls from parents and residents who are
understandably extremely concerned about the future of the 101 Playgroup,
which is clearly making an outstanding contribution to the lives of young
children and families in our local area. I strongly urge the Council to put
peoples' minds at rest and indicate how it will support the playgroup's
valuable efforts in the future."
Lynne Featherstone adds:
"The population of the Hornsey area is changing, with increasing numbers of
young families moving in. It is all the more vital that the Council ensures
that support is available for groups such as the 101 Playgroup which is
committed to providing high-quality, affordable care for local children".
Comments?
If you have any comments on this story, please let me know in the space below, or you can email me at lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org
|
