This [branch/CLP] notes the letter sent from Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Party, to all Leaders of Council Labour Groups, on 17 December 2015.
The letter states that:-
“Following the debate inside the Party during the Labour Leadership election and at our Annual Conference our Party is now clearly an anti-austerity party.
“The government’s austerity cuts are a political choice not an economic necessity. It is critically important therefore in the run up to the local government and mayoral elections in May 2016 that we pin the blame for the cuts in local government services squarely on the government, which is causing them.
“That is why we aim to build a national campaign and to work alongside Labour councils to mobilise local campaigns in their areas to demonstrate the devastating impact of this government’s cuts to local council spending.
“We wish to work with Labour Councils in forging strong alliances with local community campaigners, council staff who are under stress as a result of Tory spending cuts, local citizens and others in defending local services.
“No doubt you will already be considering with your Labour Group exactly how best to expose the Conservative government’s destructive fiscal strategy.”
This [branch/CLP] calls on the local Labour Group of councillors to respond positively to Jeremy Corbyn’s letter, by:
Confirming that the government’s austerity cuts are a political choice not an economic necessity and therefore it is the government that is to blame for the cuts in local authority services
Exposing publicly how the cuts in government funding for this local authority have and will impact on services and the quality of life for local citizens
Working with CLPs to call all Labour Party members in this local authority area to a meeting or meetings to discuss action to mobilise support for a major campaign to win more government funds for our local authority
Calling a conference of representatives of all local community and campaigning groups, together with the trades unions representing the workers that deliver council services and local TUC and trade union branches that represent organised employees working in the area, to seek agreement and action in support of the demand for more financial resources from Central Government
To link up with all the other campaigns against government cuts, such as health, education, social care, housing, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and the Pensioners Action Group
Holding public meetings in every local authority ward, with platforms of Councillors, trade unionists and community organisation spokespeople to mobilise public support for the campaign against the government cuts
Opening up all Council policy areas and committees to representation from community groups and activists to discuss with Councillors the options available to meet the needs of our citizens
To seek coordination with other Labour Councillors’ groups in the campaign for more financial resources
By such actions the local Labour councillors and Constituency Labour Parties will mobilise local citizens to oppose the Tory government and prepare the way for Labour success in the elections ahead.
