Lichfield’s MP has backed calls for the Government to give more financial certainty to local councils.
It comes after the Local Government Association said a multi-year funding settlement was required in order to aid long term planning of services.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, said such a move was “needed to “crucial for councils to plan budgets effectively” and allow them to manage future risk.
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said he has now taken up the issue with the Chancellor.
“Both county and district councils need to be able to budget in advance knowing what income they will receive from central government.
“I have told Jeremy Hunt that I agree with the Local Government Association in their call for more certainty.
“In addition to speaking with the Chancellor, I have tabled a Parliamentary Written Question asking what plans he has to adopt a place-based approach in which funding is aligned with local needs and opportunities, and a return to multi-year settlements, giving medium term certainty and better value for residents as proposed by the Local Government Association.”
Michael Fabricant
Mr Fabricant said support was already being provided by the Government after he received confirmation from Communities Secretary Michael Gove that £5.1billion was being made available to “help councils and communities through challenging times”.
Mr Gove added in his letter:
“Local government delivers a broad range of services for all our communities. That is why we are supporting all tiers of local government through this settlement with a new, one-off funding guarantee that ensures all local authorities will see a minimum 3% increase in their core spending power before taking any local decisions on raising council tax.
“This settlement confirms our intention for referendum principles of up to 3% for core council tax and up to 2% for the adult social care precept in 2023/24 – significantly below headline rates of inflation.
“When taking decisions on council tax levels, I expect councillors, mayors, police and crime commissioners and local councils to take into consideration the pressures many households are facing.”
Michael Gove
Perhaps Fabricant would care to comment on this?
“Michael Gove’s government department has been banned from spending money on new capital projects without Treasury approval amid concerns on how well public money is being managed.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/08/treasury-levelling-up-spending-michael-gove-grants
I never thought of you as naive, Professor Pineapple. Of course Michael Fabricant won’t comment. Even this government is unlikely to spend money in LDC given LDC’s record of “managing” public money even given its a “true blue” constituency..Our only very slim chance of extra government funding is if we change the political leadership of the council in May and the government then gives us extra funding to “prove” that they give cash to non -Tory councils.
John Robinson – It seems only fair to me that our modest and self-effacing MP be given the chance to tell us of his achievements. How well his choice for PM did during her 45 day tenure. The voters would love to hear of her glorious transformation of our country and how his judgement in voting for her was vindicated. Of course he as right to vote to allow sewage to be pumped into rivers. Brexit is going so well and we are all richer and freer – aren’t we?
Above all, I am curious to learn why a man who has pocketed nearly £5 million since September has been granted £220,000 in legal aid.