Councils have welcomed a potential Government U-turn on plans to axe a ‘lifeline for people in desperate need’.
Chair of London Councils, Mayor Jules Pipe, said he was pleased the Government had agreed to look again at its decision to withdraw funding for local welfare provision.
The Government last week pledged to conduct an ‘appropriate’ consultation and consider the impact on equality and discrimination before making a new decision on funding for 2015/16.
Mayor Pipe said: ‘Local welfare provision schemes, run by boroughs in partnership with the voluntary sector and other community groups, are a lifeline for people in desperate need.
‘Hopefully, by taking the time to consult on the future of this vital funding, a solution can be found which allows local schemes to continue so that no-one in a crisis is left without support.
‘However, that solution should not involve putting extra pressure on council budgets, considering boroughs have seen a 35% cut in their funding since 2010.’
