Many VCS members attended a lively meeting in December as part of the council’s budget consultation meeting, where our dismay at the scale of the cuts proposed was voiced. The main concerns were the blanket approach to the cuts, rather than basing them on an assessment of likely impact, and the Councils priorities, and also the fact that they seemed to be out of proportion with the overall percentage savings required by the Council.
GAVCA organised a campaign of letters, and emails from VCS organisations to all councillors, and senior officers in the Council.
Due to concerns that the Cabinet member with lead responsibility for the VCS was not at the meeting, GAVCA organised a further meeting with Cllr Kathy Williams, which was also attended by the leader of the council, Cllr Paul James. Several VCS members attended to put our case again face to face.
As a result, the Cabinet have now proposed to reduce the cut to half of the original level. This would mean: 4.7% in 2010-11, 9.3% in 2011-12 and 3.3% in 2012-13, a total of 17.3% as opposed to 40%. This is what the VCS reps had agreed would be acceptable to the VCS, recognising that we have to take some share of the cuts and is therefore a significant victory for the collective voice of the Forum.
We are still not happy with the way these cuts will be implemented. The proposal is to:
The VCS feel that we have been asking for that review throughout the past year and nothing has been done and so a blanket cap is being proposed because there is no clearer evidence on which to base any alternative plans. We are keen to make sure this work now goes ahead in the coming year.


Robin Agascar is included in the Queen’s 2010 New Years Honours List, having been nominated by the Gloucestershire Constabulary for whom he also works as a voluntary Chair of its Independent Advisory Group (IAG).
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Mick Matthews said he was an extremely worthy recipient of the honour. He said: “Robin is a critical friend to the Constabulary and provides invaluable advice and guidance in a number of forums as well as constructive feedback in the formation of new policies and procedures. He provides an invaluable link with the community we serve and we are extremely grateful for his continuing advice and support. I am delighted that Robin’s work has been recognised in this way and congratulate him on behalf of the Constabulary.”
Robin said: “I feel very proud and quite moved that the Constabulary has felt that I’m a worthy recipient of such an honour".
Robin has been a Member of GAY-GLOS (previously Gay & Lesbian Friend Helpline Gloucestershire) since 1991 as a volunteer, trainer, secretary and part-time paid sessional worker. He provides a significant link for the Constabulary with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual community and as such has been a vital source of information when setting up certain events.
Robin is also a member of the steering group set up to improve the reporting of sexual offences, particularly from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community. In the last 12 months, he has undertaken significant work with the Constabulary in the development of Independent Advisors critically evaluating our Stop and Account and Stop Search data.
In addition, Robin is an active member of the County Hate Crime Strategic Group and was proactively involved in the first county wide hate crime seminar that took place in February 2009. He has been an advisor to the force on training issues and also sits on a number of sub groups of the Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Board.
Robin has served as a Trustee of GAVCA for over 6 years, and as Chair for the past three years. He also sits on the VCS Assembly Board and the Gloucestershire Compact Group, which he chaired for two years when it was first established.