Cuts notes: the Royal wedding, domestic violence, 'catalyst' councils

• Welcome to the so-called "catalyst council" . I've written before about Tory-run authorities which are planning "virtual councils" and "enabling" councils. Here, a large Labour-controlled town hall - Wakefield - proposes to float off a big chunk of its front line services into private companies, social enterprises and co-ops. The plan, described by the council as a "high level, initial policy business case" paves the way for an authority which - save in a few areas such as child protection - will in future not directly provide most services itself. In a report , the council states: "It will change the type of Council that Wakefield is. We will continue to support directly provided services, but recognise that in the future we will deliver fewer services ourselves." The council says it is preparing to respond to challenges laid down in the localism bill, which will give staff the right to set up co-ops and provide the services themselves. But alarmingly, it also suggests that says radical change is needed because its existing plans to chop £65m - and 1,700 jobs - from its budget by 2014-15 "do not go far enough" to make it financially viable in future years. And why "catalyst"? The council explains: "We will... be a catalyst to ensure that our priorities are delivered for Wakefield district and its citizens." • A charity which was hired to set up the Cabinet Office staff volunteering scheme faces an uncertain future after being told - by the Cabinet Office - that it will lose its £525,000 core grant - 25% of its income. TimeBank , which has delivered 300,000 volunteers over the past decade, was told of the cut yesterday, just three weeks before its current funding runs out. I wonder if it had any inkling at all of its fate when, back on 7 December, civil society minister Nick Hurd was guest of honour at its 10th anniversary party. Post party, Hurd enthusiastically tweeted this note of thanks: "Happy10th anniversary to Timebank! Good event trying to counter cynicism on Big Society." • Communities minister Eric Pickles has proposed to block "unreasonable" cuts imposed on charities by councils . But what happens when a government department itself is being unreasonable? Today Hurd found himself having to defend another cut, at the Action Planning/Acevo conference in London. A colleague reports: "Good question to Hurd from Adrian Voce of Play England : 'We've just heard that our four central government grants are to be cut by 100%. In view of the Pickles test, how proportionate is this and why should the govt expect local authorities not to follow suit?' A discomforted Hurd did the politician's thing and asked Voce to send him details." • Women's Aid reports that over half of domestic and sexual violence services in England may close after 1 April. Its survey of 85 organisations running 420 services found that 60% of domestic violence refuges have no funding agreed after 1 April, with 72% of outreach services in the same position. Compare its survey findings with the figures for refuge and outreach use for 2009/10, it says, and this suggests that nationally over 70,000 women, and their children, might not be able to access a service in three and half week's time. Here's Women's Aid chief executive Nicola Harwin: "The proposed cuts to the national network of domestic and sexual violence services are absolutely devastating, although sadly not unexpected. We are particularly concerned that the removal of ring fenced funding for Supporting People last year coupled with cuts to local authority budgets has created a situation where councils across the country are making disproportionate cuts and rash decisions at the expense of protecting some of the most vulnerable people in society. Reducing specialist domestic violence services will inevitably result in increased demands on other shrinking services such as healthcare, police and social service departments, also under pressure, as well as putting the lives of the most vulnerable women and children at risk." • This is not a time for fripperies or extravagance , so good to see Stoke-on-Trent city council focusing on its spending priorities and deciding to subsidise the cost of Royal Wedding celebrations. It may be cutting over 700 jobs and closing swimming pools, libraries and care homes , but reports say it is to waive its standard £500 charge for public notices and health and safety checks which enable residents to close a road on which they wish to hold a street party. Councillor Brian Ward, cabinet member for housing, planning and transportation has defended the decision. According to the BBC , he said: "The Royal wedding will be one of the most important dates of the year and we're keen that people get the chance to celebrate it."