Response to press release from Labour Group re Milun Women's Centre (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

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

Response to press release from Labour Group re Milun Women's Centre

February 15, 2006 11:16 AM

Lib Dem Councillor Javaid Akhtar has reacted to Cllr Rafique's claims that the current Lib Dem/Conservative/Green administration is cutting funding to the Milun Women's centre.

Councillor Javaid Akhtar (Lib Dem, Gipton & Harehills) said "Following Cllr Rafique's ill advised press release I'd like to put a few things straight with regards to Milun Women's Centre. Contrary to Cllr Rafique's claims funding is not being cut by the administration but is instead being reviewed due to new guidelines that mean the funding stream for the centre is no longer available. This potential problem was identified nearly a year ago and we have been holding regular meetings with the Milun Centre to help draw together ideas to combat this shortfall. The administration has agreed to fund the centre for a further six months until alternative funding can be found. Ironically, Cllr Rafique heard about this situation after he was invited to a meeting I had organised with the Centre's management, the Area Committees and Social Services. It's exactly this kind of political opportunism and scaremongering we had hoped to avoid by including members from across the political divide."

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.