Wardens and Police Vital to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Wardens and Police Vital to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour

February 24, 2004 12:00 AM

Lib Dems find money for both, and will call on Labour to withdraw plans to get rid of local neighbourhood wardens ……………..

At this Wednesday's Budget Meeting of Leeds City Council Cllr Mark Harris, Leader of the Opposition Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council will call for the immediate re-instatement of the 12 Neighbourhood Warden Posts which are being cut from the Council's Budget, and for additional money to double the number of Police Community Support Officers in the Leeds area, another 37 posts.

Cllr Harris said "Tackling Anti-Social behaviour should be one of this Council's top priorities, not something we only spend a tiny percentage of our budget on. One of the measures which has started to make a difference is Neighbourhood Wardens, but now money for these posts is being cut, while only a few more Police Community Support Officers will be recruited instead.

"There is plenty of money in the Council's budget which could be used to keep the same number of Neighbourhood Wardens we currently have, and to recruit double the number of PCSOs the Council is currently proposing. 37 PCSOs will only cost the Council £427,000 in a full year because matched funding is available, doubling this number will make a real difference, but keeping the Wardens will also ensure that local communities do not feel they are being abandoned by the Council.

"It may mean that the Council cannot afford to continue spending money on things like subsidising meals for themselves in the Civic Hall, but I think most people in Leeds would rather see their money being spent on more essential services."