THIRTY-ONE RESOLUTIONs 1o Labour Part!
conference tackle the attacks on local government.
Many support the stand of Liverpool council and slam Neil Kinnoch's failure to do the same.
still whether or not to break the lan. Amongst these councils prepared to break the law to defend local jobs and services, i discussion on tactics still goes champions the option of not living a rate.
He explained strategy, hased on a unity between Labour councils never seen before. allows councho 1o return of central government funds to the hard-hil inner city councils.
FOR THE first time, a decision has been taken by Labour-controlled councils throughout the country that they can no longer accommodate or comply with legislation which means massive cuts.
There is general agreement that Labour councils won't make cuts in jobs or services the coming year. Ilal s a major step forward.
the past the Tories have always passed back to Labour councils the decisions whether we make cuts, put up the rates, or come to some olner compromise. Now everybody is saying: no, the responsibility lies with the Tory government.
We have three months strait which will place that responsibility squarely the government. How do we do it?
capped Labour-controlled HaVe said they won't appeal against the limit. If they did, the government has the right to step in and cut their budgets.
And those same authorities won't negotiate The hasic line of divide on local government is TED KNIGHT, leader of Lambeth council I0 CAROL TURNER that this aroue for d with the government individually either. We don't the cake big enough — we want a bignot a reorganisaThe tactic that was necessary Liverpool this year - - talking directly longer valid next year.
Refusal The government want to make their legislation credible by Labour councils forward negoulate. Our refusal is important There is also a genera conclusion authorities that, CYCl they had the opportunity of raising rates of course the rate-capped authorities haven't they have now reached the limit rate increases. This appies baruculany to places such Liverpool who have that option.
Compensating for Tory cuts would mean increases of 50 per cent plus. That not politically, socially or practically acceptable.
people we would be hitting working class commumues, me I every other direction by Tory cuts.
We are arguing for a return support £3½ billion that's been taken away from London, not only could we mainwe could extend them and the communities we represent.
councils preparing their presently budgets for the coming In Lambeth, we discussing with user Our budget will be set over the next three months as a result of such consultations. It will be supported defended by unionists the community as well as Labour councillors.
January wards we are mounting a campaign government resources for How DaTeL We're saying it's impossible raise money locally to meet our needs. We'll take our campaign right to the point where the government will legally insist on the council sellilig a ralt.
we set the rate, we can only set it within tne ment's terms. That means we cannot proviut lie ser vices require: the government's got 1o pro vide resources directly.
all points in this campaign we frankly that we don't wish the right to raise the rates. We've raised them as high as they can They already accommodate massive or cuts Not setting rate is demonstrating that inis conncil prepared to comply with The seusalon shows the government and local people that we can not continue under the present legislation.
Ted Knight We've next March as the date of confrontation because other councils throughout country will be taking the same steps tention is not to comply with the law The results of the GLC by-elections are very good for Labour. The percentage support show a major vote of confidence in the campaign against abolition. We've seen an indication that local government, local services, local jobs and local democratic rights of key importance to working class people in this country.
I'm ot our campaign against Tory atfirst because many, many years of local activity I've СОУС lC never such unity among Labour authorit ies. Second, we haven't seen such unity with local government trade unions, The ' JC recent y took an important decision to vane car covernicu fight. We must see that consolidated The its leadership mitted to full support for whatever tactical decisions Labour-controlled COul cils and their trade union: have to take.
That means we want to see the parliamentary leadership openly supporting those councils who fight. Confirm That the parliamentary leadership have to support us if we step outside the law to maintain jobs services. We're still waiting for such support theMe want conference to contirm that the return o a Labour government will of cencce are restorallul tral government financial support to local authorities — and ine decision Wal any penalties imposed on a immediately withdrawn and compensated for Labour government when it comes to office.
In other words. we need to know that we aren't going to face the same situation Clay Cross councillors faced, and that the LaDoll Parti prepared to withdraw retrospectively penalties imposed by this Tory government.
• Next week Hilda Kean, leader of Hackney council, she favours explains why setting a rate but making an illegal budget. CUTS Dr DOLL ship get on with it' will utterly fail to build a key prop of support for its policies.
It is not a sectarian attack upon the, curren leadership of the LPYS to propose different ways in which it can be bull into a truly mass campaigning youth wing of • It is encumbani the left of the UDUl get down to this i task in serious sober fashion.
----- pull-quotes -----
Resources Our argument is that if
NO THE CUTS