Socialists Demand Fair Budget for Reading

Socialists in Reading are calling for a "People's Needs Budget" and will host a public meeting to campaign against council cuts.

A coalition of local socialist groups has slammed Reading Borough Council for cutting services and says it has an alternative plan.

Samuel Fisher, a socialist organiser in Reading, said: "It's getting to that time of year again when local councils prepare to vote on their budget cuts. Reading Borough, along with many Labour councils nationwide, can no longer blame funding shortfalls on a Tory government. Last year, they cut essential services once again at the same time as hiking rents and council tax to the maximum level permissible."

Fisher welcomed a £200 Household Support Fund payment but warned it was "really a drop in the ocean, given the amount by which bills and grocery costs continue to rise." He added: "The Household Support Fund announcement is welcome, but we have to ask if they are planning on further cuts to already stretched public services and we wonder how they can justify cuts when the newly refurbished civic offices recently reopened to the public. Where did that money come from?"

He accused the council of failing residents: "While the council consistently have not been providing the vital services needed by their constituents! For example, they have reportedly only managed a miserly 6.5 per cent of their own affordable homes target for 2024/25 of 169. Remaining beholden to private developers' whims and wants, while approximately 4,675 people are currently on the waiting list for housing."

Fisher highlighted other figures: "Again, this goes on, when the council have made £1,747,643 in driver and parking fines recently." He questioned why the council accepts central government cuts rather than fighting for residents: "And even if the council — as an excuse for a cuts budget — points to the year-on-year cuts from central government funding — for example, a 40 per cent drop from 2009/10 to 2019/20 and counting — why are they conceding to this and not fighting for their constituents?"

Reading Socialist Party and the Reading Your Party proto-branch say they will plan a strategy for a People’s Needs budget. A People’s Budget conference is set for 2pm–5pm at the Reading International Solidarity Centre in London Street. All serving councillors, local trade unionists, Sadaka food charity, New Beginnings and Reading Voluntary Action have been invited.

The council's budget-setting meeting is due on 24 February. Fisher said: "We will be planning our fight for a people's budget. We have met many people through Your Party who are definitely interested in campaigning for a fair budget which will actually support the needs of Reading residents and will be discussing putting forward candidates to stand for TUSC (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) in the May elections. The mood is such that many people have quite simply had enough."

The council previously received approximately £8 million from the Conservative government to improve the civic offices in Bridge Street and create a new library.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter