MEMBERS of Barking and Dagenham s residents and tenants federation are furious that they were not consulted over the council s decision to publish its own paper. For years the federation has helped produce Spotlight magazine with the help of �13,000 a ye

MEMBERS of Barking and Dagenham's residents and tenants' federation are furious that they were not consulted over the council's decision to publish its own paper.

For years the federation has helped produce Spotlight magazine with the help of �13,000 a year council funding.

But they were only made aware that their funding would be cut and their magazine discontinued when they read it in the POST.

Members say they were not consulted over the council's decision to print its own paper, The News, and that they have not been asked to contribute to it.

The News sparked further anger among residents working to produce Spotlight Magazine as they say they have already organised topics for their monthly issues up until June.

Residents and tenants' federation chairman, Michael Lincoln, said: "We used to get �13,000 a year from the council to make Spotlight but I have heard they will be stopping that as of May.

"I only know this because I read it in the paper. I think that is a bit of a liberty the council is taking and I'm very annoyed by it."

Those who work on Spotlight, which is a free magazine aimed specifically at tenants and lease holders, work out of council rooms at the Civic Centre.

He said: "They are making things very awkward for us.

"The fact that they would cut our funding without even warning us is beyond belief."

The council's decision was agreed at a meeting of the executive two weeks ago.