Diary – Page 4 – Notts Save Our Services

Nottingham action against cuts and austerity – City Council budget demos, Occupy, NHS and more

This week will see Nottingham City Council vote on its cuts budget for
the next year, we’ll be there to protest. The city council is also
beginning the process of evicting the Occupy Nottingham campaign from
Market Square. This week’s email update has information on all this
and more.

We’ll see you on the streets!

—

CITY COUNCIL CUTS

On Monday March 5th, Nottingham City Council will be meeting to agree
its budget, slashing jobs and services and hiking council tax.

The council is planning to

* increase council tax by 3.49%
* encourage staff to volunteer to reduce their hours from 37 to 35 hours a week
* realign management and cut 195 jobs
* close the Museum of Nottingham Life (Brewhouse Yard), except for
group and school visits
* close two centres for older people, Marlstones Elderly Person’s Home
in Bulwell and the Willows Centre in Beechdale
* sell-off Portland Leisure Centre
* cut food waste collection and close nine recycling sites
* reduce funding to Connexions, a support service for young people

The council had initially planned to reduce reduce redundancy payments
for laid-off workers to the legal minimum (which would have been the
third time redundancy payments at the authority had been attacked),
but has subsequently decided against this.

Notts SOS and Nottingham City Unison will be holding a join
demonstration outside the Council House from 12.30pm-1.30pm.

There will also be a demonstration from 5pm-7pm for anybody coming from work.

More details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2421

—————

OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM FACING EVICTION

On Monday 27th February, Nottingham City Council served the Occupy
Nottingham camp in Market Square with notice to leave within 7 days,
after which they will serve notice of intention to seek possession
through the courts.

The occupiers state that they “have collectively decided so far, not
to move from the Market Square, and through civil disobedience and
lawful rebellion we will stay, and prevent intimidation tactics being
used on those involved with Occupy.”

Campers are encouraging people to come down and show support.They have
also request help from anybody able to provide assistance in preparing
a court case.

A petition has been started, calling on the city council to reverse its decision

Petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/nottingham-occupy-camp-eviction.html

More information: http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk

—————

BOYCOTT WORKFARE

Yesterday saw a UK-wide day of action against workfare. Locally this
was supported by Notts Uncut and Notts Trades Council who had a
successful demonstration, protesting various companies profiteering
from unpaid labour. Both the BBC and ITV turned up to report on the
protest.

Anybody wanting to find out more about workfare could do worse than to
check out the excellent factsheet provided by the Boycott Workfare
campaign.

This provides information on all five workfare programmes;
demonstrates that none of them are voluntary; explains why they
undermine wages and replace jobs; shows the programmes don’t and won’t
work; and explains why people should care.

Factsheet: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?page_id=663

—————

KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC

Following their successful stall in Beeston on Saturday 25th february,
the local Keep Our NHS Public branch are going to hand over the 500+
postcards to Anna Soubry MP next Saturday (10th March) lunchtime
following her surgery at Beeston Library. They are encouraging
supporters come along and join them.

They will assemble from 11:45am in Beeston Library car park and expect
to have completed the handover by 12:45pm.

More details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2445

The next Keep Our NHS Public branch meeting is on Thursday 8 March
from 7:30pm at the Nottingham Friends Meeting House, 25 Clarendon
Street, Nottingham, NG1 5JD.

The branch have made presentation to Broxtowe Labour Party CLP,
Rushcliffe Labour Party CLP and the Nottingham Elders Forum – these
have been well received and have prompted further activity in the
fight to save our NHS. The group have also been invited to speak at a
meeting in Mansfield hosted by Mansfield SOS and are happy to provide
speakers for other organisations if requested.

Email: info@notts-konp.org.uk

—————
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Monday 5th March, 12.30pm-1.30pm and 5pm-7pm
Nottingham City Council meets to set its budget. A lunchtime protest
is being organised by Notts City Unison and Notts SOS, with another
demo in the evening for those coming from work
http://www.nottinghamcityunison.org.uk/

Wednesday 7th March, 1pm-7.30pm
Save our NHS mass day of action and rally, Westminster, London.
http://s.coop/unitenhs

Thursday March 8th
International women’s day

Thursday 8th March, 7.30pm
Keep Our NHS Public branch meeting at the Nottingham Friends Meeting House

Saturday 10th March, 11.45am
Notts Keep Our NHS Public will handover postcards to Anna Soubry MP at
Beeston Library
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2445

Wednesday 14th March
National student walkout over “reforms” to higher education
http://gu.com/p/35dqz

Saturday 17th March, 2pm
Nottingham Indymedia are organising an online security skillshare at
the Sumac Centre.This will include an introductory session on using
Indymedia to post your own news about campaigns
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2413

Sunday 18th March, 10am-12pm
Save Sherwood Forest ramble to celebrate World Forest Day and mark a
year of campaigning to keep the Public Forest Estate in public
ownership
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2442

Wednesday 28th March
Possible national strike action over pensions by PCS and NUT (and
maybe other unions)

Saturday 12th April, 2pm
Legal observer training organised by Nottingham Defence Campaign and
run by Green and Black Cross. Held at the Sumac Centre, Forest Fields
https://imc.li/2sgsx

—
Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)

Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Nottingham Indymedia:
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/groups/notts-save-our-services

Campaigners to protest at city council budget meeting – Notts SOS Press Release – join the demonstrations on Monday 5th March

PRESS RELEASE Notts Save Our Services 1st March 2012

Campaigners to protest at city council budget meeting
On Monday March 5th, Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)
will protest outside the Council House when Nottingham City Council
meets to vote on its budget for 2012-13.

From 12.30pm-1.30pm, campaigners from the group will join with members
of Nottingham City Unison, demonstrating against the cuts to jobs and
services being voted through.

There will also be a protest for people coming from work at 5pm-7pm.

Protesters hope to present a petition against the council’s cuts
during the lunchtime demonstration.

The budget being discussed at the meeting includes a 3.49% council tax
increase alongside 195 job cuts.

The council are looking at selling-off Portland Leisure Centre;
closing two centres for older people, Marlstones Elderly Person’s Home
in Bulwell and the Willows Centre in Beechdale; closing the Museum of
Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard; cutting food waste collections and
closing nine recycling centres; and reducing funding to Connexions, a
support service for young people.

The council had also propsed reducing redundancy payments for laid-off
staff to the legal minimum, but has subsequently withdrawn this
proposal.

In total the council hope to save £20m to cover a shortfall arising
from reduced government funding as a result of the coalition
government’s austerity drive.

The council has also said that this will not be the end to the cuts,
with an additional £24m of cutbacks required by the end of the spring
2015.

Notts SOS believe that the cuts agenda is ideologically driven and are
urging councillors to stand-up to central government.

Claire Taylor from Notts SOS said, “Council Leader Jon Collins and
Deputy Leader Graham Chapman have been vocally critical of central
government and often with good reason. Now it’s time for them to put
their money where their mouth is and refuse to pass the cuts onto the
people of Nottingham. Even a single council refusing to implement a
cuts budget would shake the coalition government.”

Contacts

Email: nottssos@gmail.com
Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Email list: http://goo.gl/uT89q

Notes for editors

1. Notts SOS was set up in the autumn of 2010 to campaign and oppose
all cuts to services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. We have been
fighting council cuts on many levels since then, including organising
a 1,200 strong march to the city centre in November 2010.

ENDS

Anti-workfare demonstrations in Nottingham on Saturday 3rd March 2012 – part of National Day of Action

National Day of Action Against Workfare (March 3rd)

Joint Notts Uncut/Notts TUC Workfare Action as advertised on Nottingham Indymedia: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2429

Saturday 3rd March 2012. Starting 12:00 noon outside Wilkinsons, Parliament Street (across road from Victoria Centre), Nottingham.

See also: Boycott Workfare Leaflet

In solidarity with Liverpool Uncut’s action against workfare on Saturday 3rd March, Boycott Workfare has called a national day of action against workfare.

So many high street stores are involved in taking on forced unpaid labour that there is plenty of choice – Tescos, Asda, Holland & Barrett, Primark, HMV, and Topshop to name but a few.

Workfare means that those who need welfare are forced into unpaid work for multi-million pound companies. Instead of a living wage, they receive only JSA – a tiny £53 a week for the under-25s – far below minimum wage.

Workfare means those in paid positions may see their jobs replaced by this unpaid labour. Why would a company pay for people to do these jobs when they can get free labour from the Job Centre?

We can put a stop to this forced unpaid labour – Waterstones, Sainsburys and TK Maxx have all recently announced that they would no longer take unpaid placements – the other companies just need a bit more encouragement to stop this exploitation.

We demand an end to this exploitation and call for welfare rights and living wages for all!
If you continue to exploit us we WILL shut you down!

In conjunction with Notts Trades Council.

Contact email: nottsuncut@gmail.com

More background information

The government has budged a tiny bit on workfare by claiming to withdraw the sanctions from its Work Experience scheme. This is a direct result of the enormous public pressure that has been put on companies who have been profiting from workfare.

But this is not the end of workfare and therefore we must keep the pressure up. That is why we will be taking to the streets this Saturday. Work Experience is just 1 of 5 workfare schemes. The Work Programme is another one of these schemes in which job seekers will be forced to work unpaid in high street stores, including well known charities, up and down the country. Some of these stores that may be worth a visit include – Wilkinsons, Savers, Asda, Pizza Hut, British Heart Foundation, Barnardos, Holiday Inn, Poundstretcher The Work Programme is a particularly disturbing form of workfare – not only can job seekers be forced to work unpaid for 6 whole months, but most shockingly, disabled people can be forced to work unpaid for an unlimited amount of time.

If you cannot make it to your local high street (or there is not an action near you) then you can follow the link to the companies’ online complaints page to raise issues about the exploitation that they profit from. You can also target the usual suspects (Tescos, Poundland, McDonalds, Holland and Barret, WH Smiths) who are still taking part in the Work Experience scheme and may well be involved in others. And then there are the companies who have only suspended involvement: Scope, Matalan, Argos, Superdrug. The Work Experience scheme is still a cause of concern. As the government press release made clear, there are still sanctions involved in this scheme and therefore there is still the element of compulsion. George Osborne has stated “Young people who don’t engage with this offer [of work experience] will be considered for mandatory work activity” where severe benefit sanctions (starting at 3 months!) can be imposed. With the Work Experience programme still being linked to sanctions directly and indirectly, and still remaining unpaid, we suggest pressure is put on companies to withdraw their support and to offer real paid jobs!

Here are some forms of action that will be happening up and down the country that you may like to try out: local groups are planning to do tours of the companies involved, set up stalls to make people aware of their rights on the various programmes (see Boycott Workfare site for materials), go into stores and ask managers to withdraw support or simply shut the stores down. Teach-ins and mic-checks are also fun activities you might want to include.

Join us in fighting the cuts – Notts SOS update for week beginning 27th Feb 2012

Last Thursday, Nottinghamshire County Council voted through its latest
cuts budget with the “independents” and LibDems tagging along with the
Tory majority.

Nevertheless,The fight against the cuts continues. In Nottinghamshire
they still need to be implemented and, across the river in the city,
it is just over a week before Nottingham City Council meet to agree
their budget. We’ll be there making it clear that we’re not happy with
the way they are meekly following central government’s diktats and
passing on the costs of the crisis to the ordinary people of
Nottingham.

Come along and get involved!

—–

BOYCOTT WORKFARE

Workfare is the name applied to a number of government programmes in
which people on workfare are expected to work without pay. Instead of
a living wage, they receive only JSA – a tiny £53 a week for the
under-25s – far below minimum wage.

Workfare means those in paid positions may see their jobs replaced by
this unpaid labour. Why would a company pay for people to do these
jobs when they can get free labour from the Job Centre?

There has been a lot of controversy about this over the last week,
following (ultimately successful) protests against Tescos which was a
participant in the “Work Experience Programme”.

In solidarity with Liverpool Uncut’s action against workfare on
Saturday 3rd March, Boycott Workfare has called a national day of
action against workfare. Notts Uncut are organising a demonstration as
part of this in Nottingham.

So many high street stores are involved in taking on forced unpaid
labour that there is plenty of choice – Asda, Holland & Barrett,
Primark, HMV, and Topshop to name but a few.

We can put a stop to this forced unpaid labour – Waterstones,
Sainsburys and TK Maxx have all recently announced that they would no
longer take unpaid placements – the other companies just need a bit
more encouragement to stop this exploitation.

Meet outside Wilkinsons, Parliament Street, 12pm

Protest details: http://s.coop/nottsworkfare

More on workfare: http://www.boycottworkfare.org

—————

OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM

The occupation of Nottingham’s Market Square has now been ongoing for
more than 4 months. The campers are inviting people along to an
outreach and social event in Sneinton. This is an opportunity to enjoy
a relaxed informative insight into the economy, the Occupy movement,
and its aims, achievements and plans the future.

What to expect:

Speakers/Open Debate: 7-8pm
Food, Music & Poetry: 8-9pm
Networking/Open Floor: 9-10pm

…and much much more!

This is a free event organised by the Occupy Nottingham Outreach
working group, and everyone is invited to get involved or attend for
an insightful, educational and fun evening!

The event will be held at Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre,
Sneinton Boulevard, NG2 4GN

More details: http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk

—————

CITY COUNCIL CUTS

On Monday March 5th, Nottingham City Council will be meeting to agree
its budget, slashing jobs and services and hiking council tax.

Notts SOS and Nottingham City Unison will be holding a join
demonstration outside the Council House from 12.30pm-1.30pm.

Unison are also holding a smaller demonstration at Loxley House on
Wednesday 29th February in defence of the essential car user allowance
which has already been cutback and is likely to be attacked further.

—————

ONE MILLION SIGNATURES FOR EUROPE

A petition has been launched calling for the “onerous debt” on Greece
to be written off. The intention is to collect a million signatures.
Under the Treaty of Lisbon, a petition with at least one million
signatures obtained from a number of Member States can be sent to the
Commission inviting it to change the law accordingly.

Petition: http://www.1millionsignatures.eu/?a=en

—————

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 28th February, 7pm-10pm
Occupy Nottingham community outreach and social evening, Sneinton
Hermitage Community Centre, Sneinton Boulevard, NG2 4GN
http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk

Wednesday 29th February
PCS protest against closures of DVLA offices. Nottingham Business Park, Strelley
https://imc.li/zxphu

Wednesday 29th February, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Nottingham City Unison protest outside Loxley House in defence of
essential car user allowances
http://www.nottinghamcityunison.org.uk/

Saturday 3rd March, 12pm
Protest against workfare. Meet outside Wilkinsons, Parliament Street.
http://s.coop/nottsworkfare

Monday 5th March, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Nottingham City Council meets to set its budget. A protest is being
organised by Notts City Unison and Notts SOS.
http://www.nottinghamcityunison.org.uk/

Wednesday 7th March, 1pm-7.30pm
Save our NHS mass day of action, Houses of Parliament, London.
http://s.coop/unitenhs

Wednesday 14th March
National student walkout over “reforms” to higher education
http://gu.com/p/35dqz

Saturday 17th March, 2pm
Nottingham Indymedia are organising an online security skillshare at
the Sumac Centre.This will include an introductory session on using
Indymedia to post your own news about campaigns
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2413

Wednesday 28th March
Possible national strike action over pensions by PCS and NUT (and
maybe other unions)

Saturday 12th April, 2pm
Legal observer training organised by Nottingham Defence Campaign and
run by Green and Black Cross. Held at the Sumac Centre, Forest Fields
https://imc.li/2sgsx

—
Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)

Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Nottingham Indymedia:
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/groups/notts-save-our-services

Notts County Council budget protest organised by Unison – Thursday 23rd February 2012

On Thursday 23rd February, Nottinghamshire County Council will meet to set its budget for 2012-13.

Notts Unison will be holding a demonstration outside County Hall at 12.30pm in protest against cuts to jobs and services and creeping privatisation.

Staff, service users and concerned citizens are encouraged to join the protest to show the breadth of opposition to the proposed cuts.

Link to flyer for the event: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2407

Anti-cuts activity in Nottingham – February 2012

This is the latest update from Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS) with details of what we’re up to and other anti-cuts activity in Nottingham over the next week or so. We will add to this with updates as they arise.

UPDATE!! OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM presents:
Community outreach and social evening – Sneinton.
Date/Time: Tuesday 28th February 2012, 7pm-10pm
Venue: Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre, Sneinton Boulevard, NG2 4GN
Details: http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk/occupy-nottingham-presents-community-outreach-and-social-evening-sneinton/

—————

NOTTS SOS MEETINGS

We meet every two weeks which means that the next meetings are Monday
6th February and Monday 20th February.

Meetings start at 7.30pm and are held at the International Community
Centre, Mansfield Road. Meetings are usually finished before 9pm and
there’s often an opportunity to carry on any discussion informally in
the pub afterwards. Please do come along and get involved.

—————

CITY COUNCIL CUTS CAMPAIGN

Update: Another stall will be Saturday 11th Feb in the Market Square between the Lions 11am – 2pm.
Our campaign against cuts at Nottingham City Council will continue
next Saturday (4th February) with a stall in Market Square. We’ll be
there from 11am-2pm distributing leaflets and collecting signatures
for our petition.

If you can help for any time during that period, please come along.

—————

WITNESS APPEAL: DECEMBER 17TH

If you witnessed any of the arrests resulting from the Notts Uncut
“Christmas Special” demonstration on Saturday December 17th 2011,
please contact Notts Uncut: nottsuncutaction@gmail.com

Anything you saw, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could be important.

—————

PROTEST AGAINST ATOS AND POLICE REPRESSION

Although the CPS and Atos backed out from continuing the ridiculous
case against the “Atos Two”, Atos continue to make people’s lives a
misery and Notts Police have been busy in the last few months
harassing and arresting protesters in the city (see:
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2334).

In response, Nottingham Defence Campaign have called a protest against
Atos and police repression next Friday (3rd February) 12.30pm. Meet at
the junction of Carlton Street and Heathcote Street (outside Ice
Nine).

More information (plus leaflets and posters):
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2335
—————

NOTTS UNCUT

Our friends Notts Uncut are having an open meeting next Tuesday (31st
January) at The Roebuck (Wetherspoons), St James Street, Nottingham.
from 7.30pm.

They will be planning for the future, discussing ideas for future
actions, strategies and tactics, publicity, “recruitment” (for want of
a better word) and whatever else comes up.

If you’ve been to any Notts Uncut actions and have ideas, constructive
criticism, suggestions for the future, they encourage you to come
along and share them. Alternatively if you haven’t been on any of
their actions and want to come along and find out more you’ll be very
welcome.

The Notts Uncut phone number is 07856565214. Please feel free to get
in touch if you can’t make it on the night but want something bringing
up, come along but can’t find us etc. Alternatively the Notts Uncut
e-mail address is nottsuncutaction@gmail.com

More details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2363

Nottingham protest against ATOS Healthcare and police repression in Hockley – Friday 3rd February 2012

Press Release from Nottingham Defence Campaign

PROTEST AGAINST ATOS & POLICE REPRESSION IN HOCKLEY

Activists have called to a protest against the conduct of Atos ‘Healthcare’ and what they describe as ‘police repression’ coming Friday (3rd February 2012).

In September 2011, two Nottingham residents, a retired paediatric nurse and a wheelchair user were arrested following a peaceful protest at the local offices of Atos ‘Healthcare’. Faced with an impressive solidarity campaign and apparently worried that their case had no chance of holding up in court, the CPS and Atos backed down. The charges of aggravated trespass were dropped.

The case of the ‘Atos Two’ was followed by arrests of Notts Uncut activists just before Christmas and the confiscation of a photography student’s tapes after he filmed an arrest.

Supporters of the arrestees have described these events as worrying signs that the local force is changing its attitude towards peaceful protesters. This seems to have been confirmed by a police officers’ remark who commented on the arrest of the ‘Atos Two’ by stating that there “had been too much of this sort of thing and we were told to crack down on it”.

Jamie Kennedy from the Nottingham Defense Campaign said: “The police have wasted time and resources on ridiculous charges. Meanwhile, Atos’ biased and abusive conduct against benefit claimants remains unchanged. They might have backed off from going after the Atos Two but we will certainly not let them off the hook!”

Protesters will gather on Friday 3rd February 2012 from 12.30pm at the junction of Carlton Street and Heathcote Street, Hockley, Nottingham; see http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2335

Contacts

Nottingham Defence Campaign
Tel: 07758867343
Email: nottsdefence@riseup.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NottsDefence
Website: http://network23.org/nottsdefence

Notes for editors

1) Regarding the original protest against Atos see: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2053
2) Regarding the charges against the ‘Atos Two’ see: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2168
3) Regarding the solidarity campaign for the ‘Atos Two’ see: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/2207
4) Regarding the arrests of Notts Uncut activists see: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/2276
5) Regarding the harassment of student photographer see: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/2238
6) A Statement of Support for the Atos Two has been signed by more than a hundred persons and organisations, including Welfare Rights Groups, Councillors and John McDonnell MP: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2195
7) Atos Healthcare was selected by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to administer the Work Capability Assessments (WCA).
Campaigners claim that WCA are part of a deliberate policy by the coalition government designed to force as many people as possible off disability benefits regardless of their physical and/or psychological abilities.
Critics of Atos Healthcare point to the high number of successful appeals against decisions by the company. A report by BBC Inside Out East found that more than one third of appeals were successful: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15681502
Furthermore the expertise and conduct of the so called ‘healthcare professionals’ undertaking the assessments has been severely questioned by campaigners. In August it emerged that twelve doctors employed by the company were being investigated by the General Medical Council over allegations of improper conduct: http://gu.com/p/3x7jd

Notts Uncut open meeting – 31st January 2011

Notts Uncut, our local campaign against corporate tax avoiders including Vodaphone, Boots and owners of several other high street stores are having an open meeting next Tuesday 31st January 2012 to plan for the future, so discussing ideas for future actions, strategies and tactics, publicity, getting more people involved and whatever else comes up. Venue is the Roebuck (Wetherspoons) on St. James Street, Nottingham City Centre, starting at 7.30pm.

The Notts Uncut phone number is 07856565214 and it’s fine to advertise this number to anyone who can’t make it on the night but wants something bringing up, comes along but can’t find us etc.

Also if anyone saw any of the 3 Notts Uncut arrests on 17th December 2011 and would be willing to act as a witness please contact nottsuncutaction@gmail.com or phone the number above.
They are back at Bridewell Court today. Witnesses can be hugely important to building a defence case. If you were there its really important that you take notes about what you remember and get in touch as above. If you know somebody else who was there, make sure you get on to them to do so.

Notts SOS meeting – Monday 23rd January at the YMCA International Community Centre

Notts SOS meets every two weeks on a Monday, and the next meeting is Monday 23rd January.

As ever, we meet at 7.30pm at the YMCA International Community Centre, Mansfield Road. Meetings are usually finished before 9pm and there’s often an opportunity to carry on any discussion informally in the pub afterwards.

Please do come along and get involved.

Nottingham City Council’s draft Budget for 2012/13 published – public consultation meeting dates

Nottingham City Council’s draft Budget for 2012/13 has only just been published.

For a summary see http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17124.

These include 195 job cuts and a council tax increase of 3.49%.

Additionally, the council are looking at

* encouraging staff to volunteer to work 35 hours rather than 37
* selling-off Portland Leisure Centre
* closing two centres for older people, Marlstones Elderly Person’s
Home in Bulwell and the Willows Centre in Beechdale
* closing the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard
* cutting food waste collections and closing nine recycling centres
* reducing funding to Connexions, a support service for young people
* reducing redundancy payments for laid-off staff to the legal minimum

The budget will go before a full council meeting on 5th March.

We’ve already begun a campaign to encourage councillors to vote
against the budget. Keep an eye out for stalls and protests around the
city.

Public consultation meetings are being held as listed below. It is important that as many people as possible go to these meetings to pressurise councillors not to implement this cuts budget. Get yourself there and urge your contacts to attend.

Saturday 21 Jan 12, Sherwood District Centre, Outside Co-op., 684 Mansfield Rd., NG5 2GE, 10am -12noon. Contact telephone: 0115 883 8469.

Tuesday 24 Jan 12, Clifton Cornerstone Southchurch Drive, Clifton, NG11 8EW, 6:30pm 915 3079

Wednesday 25 Jan 12, Indian Community, Centre (ICCA), Hucknall Road, Carrington, NG5 1QZ, 6pm 883 8469

Wednesday 25 Jan 12, Bentinck School Bentinck Road, Radford, NG7 4AA, 4pm 883 8469

Wednesday 25 Jan 12, Greenway Centre Trent Lane, Sneinton, NG2 4DF, 6.30pm 915 3079

Monday 30 Jan 12, Top Valley Community Centre, Top Valley Way, NG6 9DD, 6pm 915 9127

Tuesday 31 Jan 12, Loxley House LB41, (BSL interpreters will be present), Station Street, N2 3NG, 5pm 876 4955

Wednesday 1 Feb 12, Thomas Hewly’s Baptist Church, Church St, Lenton, NG7 1SJ, 2pm -3.30pm, 883 8469

Wednesday 1 Feb 12, Southwark Primary School, Park Lane, Basford, NG6 ODT, 6pm 915 9127

Friday 3 Feb 12, Bulwell Market Place Bulwell, NG6 8HD 9.30am 915 9127

Monday 6 Feb 12, Meadows Library Wilford Grove, NG2 2DR, 6-8pm 915 3079

Wednesday 8 Feb 12, Chase Neighbourhood Centre, Robin Hood Chase, St Ann’s, NG3 4EZ,4.30pm 915 3079

Wednesday 8 Feb 12, Sheila Roper Community Centre, Baslow Drive, Lenton Abbey, NG9 2SU, 7pm 883 8469

Thursday 9 Feb 12, Bilborough Market Bracebridge Drive, NG8 4PN, 9.30 -11.30am, 915 9127

Thursday 9 Feb 12, Kingswood Church Lambourne Drive, Wollaton, NG8 1GR, 7pm 883 8469

Thursday 16 Feb 12, Nottingham Salvation Army, 397 Aspley Lane, NG8 5RR, 6pm 915 9127