Leaders of voluntary organisations which provide vital services for hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people across York today called on city councillors to beg Tony Blair's New Labour government for more cash.

The call came as it emerged members of the city council's Local Affairs Committee who meet this evening were expected to recommend a "standstill budget" of £1.2m.

After inflation, that means voluntary schemes funded through the committee could face a real-terms cut in their budgets

Other voluntary services could be equally hard hit when social services committee members meet next Monday.

Voluntary organisations in York do vital work with almost every sector of the community. They include the York Community Furniture Store, organisations working with children, the disabled and the elderly, and others such as the CAB and Relate.

Colin Stroud, head of York's Council for Voluntary Services, said today the voluntary sector was providing great value for money to some of the most needy and vulnerable people in the city.

A standstill budget, he warned, would be a serious blow. "The Government is making all sorts of noises about the significance of the voluntary sector. If local authorities are being squeezed so much for Government funding then the Government is not putting its money where its mouth is.

"This is an age of partnership. I would be very willing to put myself forward alongside the council to lobby for more money if that is what it takes."

Age Concern chief officer Sally Hutchinson said she like Mr Stroud understood the spending pressures on the city council.

But she added: "We've been fortunate to do some really, really good work for the older people of York. We really hope that in the year of better government for older people we can keep them as a priority so that we can continue to do this work."

Local affairs committee chairman Coun Carol Wallace said she accepted the voluntary sector was excellent value for money.

But she said the committee had no alternative but to recommend a standstill budget.

Central government itself had to cope with enormous demands on the public purse, she added.

"They, like us, have to look at their priorities."

Recommendations by members of the local affairs and social services committees will be considered by councillors at the next full council budget meeting at the end of February.

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