Yet another foundation stone of youth music provision in England looks to be under threat with the news that Bromley Council is seeking to withdraw all of its funding to Bromley Youth Music Trust as of 1st April.

Proposals

The Council’s Education Policy, Development & Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 27th January to put forward the proposals, with a further meeting of Bromley Council Executive debating the findings yesterday.

A full Bromley Council meeting will be held Monday 23rd February to debate and possibly ratify decisions made by the PDS Committee and Executive.

£300,000 a year

A recent public consultation exercise saw great support for the maintaining the service which has been receiving approximately £300,000 a year of financial support.

As one statement in support said: “The borough will decline if essential services are not maintained so cuts should stop before services are damaged. Front-line, quality of life services should be protected, such as parks, libraries and Bromley Youth Music Trust."

Sick and tired

Even Ed Vaizey, Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has recently said that he was ‘sick and tired of local authorities stepping away from their responsibility for the arts.’

sick and tired of local authorities stepping away from their responsibility for the artsEd Vaizey, Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Plans

BYMT Principal Ian Rowe stated: “The Bromley Youth Music Trust is aware that hard decisions must be made, but has already submitted plans for a 3 year transition to a reduced grant by looking at staff restructuring, generating new income streams and forging even closer relationships with schools and local community.

Sudden death

He added: "BYMT is not afraid of manageable cuts, but this sudden death decision would be disastrous, a blow to the hopes and aspirations of all BYMT's current and future students.

Reductions in staffing and drastic reductions with respect to our support of low income families is inevitable. As well as the necessity to increase fees, making music less accessible to families.

The damage caused would be irreversible...”