Labour short changes Medway to the tune of £5 million whilst others get increases of more than £50 million
The Labour government have confirmed that they will be cutting an astonishing 5.6 percent of Medway’s funding this year, which represents nearly £5 million, whilst other councils, such as Wandsworth, will get an increase of more than £50 million.
This means that for every person living in Medway the Brown government is taking more than £18 - enough for every single resident to go and see Joe Swash in Cinderella for free.
Last week the government announced that they would press on with plans to cut more than £4.8 million from Medway’s budget as part of the so called Floor Damping Mechanism.
Instead of fully funding Medway, the government decides what they believe Medway needs and then takes part of the funding back and gives it to other councils.
Although this mechanism is supposed to make sure all councils receive a minimum level of funding, in reality it means that some local authorities are getting more than they need, whilst others, such as Medway, receive less than it requires to run vital services.
Research conducted by Medway’s Conservative Group shows that other councils with similar population levels are receiving a cash boost through damping, whereas Medway faces cuts.
For example, Brighton and Hove Council is receiving a massive £19.7 million windfall this year.
Even taking account of average deprivation levels in the area, using the government’s indices of multiple deprivation, councils with similar levels to Medway are receiving more.
Wandsworth Council, which has a similar level of deprivation and a slightly larger population is getting more than £50 million - That’s a whopping £182 extra for every resident.
Hillingdon Council with a very similar population and deprivation levels to Medway is only facing a cut of £454,000 to their budget.
Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on Medway Council Cllr Alan Jarrett said:
“Medway Council is facing another swingeing cut in its funding whilst other councils with similar demands on its services and similar population and deprivation levels are receiving up to £50 million more. This cannot be fair and is robbing the residents of Medway of the services they deserve.”
Wandsworth Council, which has a similar level of deprivation and a slightly larger population is getting more than £50 million - That’s a whopping £182 extra for every resident.
Hillingdon Council with a very similar population and deprivation levels to Medway is only facing a cut of £454,000 to their budget.
Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on Medway Council Cllr Alan Jarrett said:
“Medway Council is facing another swingeing cut in its funding whilst other councils with similar demands on its services and similar population and deprivation levels are receiving up to £50 million more. This cannot be fair and is robbing the residents of Medway of the services they deserve.”
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posted by pat
2 comments:
Councillor Jarrett is correct. I have been following the funding fiddles by the Labour Government for years, and have a lot of material on file. I recently blogged about it, and your readers might find the article illuminating.
Well done for highlighting this now perennial blight upon the whole of Medway.
The real extent of the deprivation is around £28 million, and that is (as I have covered in detail) from official figures including what the Government's own formula determines is how much grant Medway Council needs in order to do the jobs it is tasked to do.
It is, of course, all party politically motivated, and is something that needs to be scrapped. As it happens, Parliament is just starting to look at the question of the infamous Barnett Formula, and I'd urge all current elected members of Medway Council who accept the inequity of the present arrangements to participate in this consultation exercise.
Do keep a safety copy of anything you submit, just in case any inconvenient contributions should end up being "lost" in the system…
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