Councillors blast funding cuts (From Stourbridge News)

Councillors blast funding cuts

10:08am Friday 1st February 2008 in Local

DUDLEY borough ethnic minority children are to lose out if the council decides to cut vital funding which they rely on.

Parents and children including representatives from The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) spoke out at Brierley Hill Area Committee against plans to cut funding to the service.

The service looks set to suffer as EMAS will lose out on £306,000 in council handouts for three years under budget proposals.

EMAS based at Bowling Green Road, Netherton, works in partnership with schools and communities within the borough to help support youngsters who use English as their second language.

They provide in-class curriculum and bilingual support and intensive short-term programmes for new arrivals.

Speaking out at the meeting on behalf on EMAS - Rebirtha Hart-Bowtnan pleaded with councillors to reconsider the plans fearing the cuts will help lead to generational poverty.

She said: "I am asking for a halt on these plans, the cuts to these services are disproportional.

"Ethnic minority children under achieve and EMAS provide a real means for them.

"After using EMAS many children can achieve and can contribute to employment instead of relying on benefits."

Brierley Hill councillor Zafar Islam said: "These cuts will be three hundred thousand over three years, we have to look at what is effective and who we are serving.

"These cuts are at a cost of our children's future.

"We need to know what consequences will result from them."

Brookmoor and Pensnett cllr Rosemary Tomkinson added: "I believe as councillors we are failing in our duty if we do not help the children in are in most need."

In response Councillor Harold Nottingham, who sits on the select committee for children's services, said cuts from the Government were having a knock on effect on the budget.

Councillors requested the decision goes back to the appropriate select committee to scrutinise the proposal before it goes to full council.