Greenwich Council has warned that its voluntary sector grant budget could be slashed by 50 per cent or more from next year.

The Council has said funding committed to charities and faith groups would be secure up till 31st March 2011.

However, funding committed to the voluntary sector after this date, will be cut by 50 per cent or more.

Greenwich Action for Voluntary Service said it would strongly object to any changes in funding unless proportionate savings were also made in the Council.

Elsewhere, Hammersmith & Fulham Council will recommend reducing its voluntary sector budget by 16 per cent over the next three years, at a cabinet council meeting this Thursday 15th July.

The cut will translate into total savings of £700,791 over the three years.

A Hammersmith & Fulham Council spokesperson said: “The council spends significantly more on the voluntary sector than the majority of London councils and the process for groups to bid for funding is both fair and transparent.”

Hammersmith & Fulham Councillor Joe Carlebach added: “Our focus is on which bidders provide the best services at the best value for our residents. We do not have the luxury of being able to give out grants simply because an organization previously received one.”

Last week, Croydon Council proposed cutting grants to the voluntary sector by nearly 66 per cent, from £1.8m a year to £625,000 a year over the next four years.