Savage Cuts to ADeC

6.43.00pm GMT Mon 3rd Dec 2007

When the Community Services Committee of the District Council voted to remove £70,000 from the ADeC (Arts Development in East Cambridgeshire) budget, this provoked widespread shock.

The cuts were approved by 5 (Tory) votes to 4. The decision was immediately called in by the Liberal Democrats for review by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, to enable the controlling Conservative Group to reconsider. But this was again turned down by the same margin. These savage cuts mean ADeC loses 40% of its support from the council - equivalent to an arm and a leg!

A large number of angry people came to both meetings, asking questions and showing strong support for ADeC's activities.

During the last twelve months AdeC has

• Co-ordinated the regional premier of Elizabeth:The Golden Age at The Maltings;

• Arranged a very successful cinema programme at The Maltings;

• Developed festivals and events, such as Eel Day and Ely Folk Festival;

• Run the Babylon Gallery, which attracted over 25,000 visitors;

• Supported Fenland Jam, Ely Samba Band and over 60 other arts and dramatic groups;

• Attracted over £300,000 in grants and external funding; and

• Published the monthly guide: What's On In East Cambridgeshire.

Do you mind

• Losing the cinema, vulnerable after the cuts? (The Maltings contract has no provision for community activities.)

• Not having the Royal Shakespeare Company perform locally?

• Losing the holiday and half term arts and drama programmes for young people?

Let us know what you think. info@secambslibdems.org.uk