Kerslake: Localism Act not backed by resources
As the Economist was saying a year ago:
Britain’s local councils face financial crisis
Jan 28th 2017| LIVERPOOL
Amid a painful fiscal squeeze, some authorities may soon be unable to meet their statutory obligations
Local councils to see central funding fall 77% by 2020
Local Government Association estimates a £5.8bn funding gap
JULY 4, 2017
Councils in England are calling for the end of austerity, saying the UK government plans to slash their core funding 77 per cent.
Local councils to see central funding fall 77% by 2020
And the Local Government Association was calling for council tax rises to cope:
“HOBSON’S CHOICE CUT OR CUT?” SAYS EAST DEVON ALLIANCE COUNCILLOR CATHY GARDNER
21 JAN 2018
“East Devon’s MP wrote a column for the Sidmouth Herald (“View from Westminster”, 12 Jan 2018) saying that that as a District Councillor I “will be tested” by “funding pressures”. I am indeed very unhappy about the cuts made to all public services due to the “choice” made by this government to pursue austerity. We should consider why our representative in Parliament has always made the “choice” to vote with the government on austerity cuts while publicly speaking out against bed cuts in London (Brompton Hospital), not East Devon.”
[see here:
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/08/05/more-on-swire-saving-services-at-royal-brompton-hospital-london/
and here
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/12/03/swire-fails-to-save-another-hospital/
“All Councils have had their government funding drastically reduced. There is no sign that this funding will ever return, leaving our infrastructure to deteriorate. EDDCs controlling party made a “choice” not to increase council tax for five years and proudly crowed about it, thus reducing the amount available in the coffers to help fund services now.
EDDC are looking at ways to cut even more and I will be asking for essential services like free and unrestricted access to public toilets to be protected over things like art galleries. Don’t get me wrong, I would prefer not to cut anything at all, but public toilets are a public health matter and must be defended. Youth services should also be prioritised as money spent there tends to be saved elsewhere in the system. These are the “choices” that the District Council faces. We will see what the controlling Conservative group chose to prioritise when the budget is approved at the end of February.”
Cllr Cathy Gardner, East Devon Alliance and ward member for Sidmouth town
Source: East Devon Alliance Facebook page posted today
“Hobson’s choice cut or cut?” says East Devon Alliance councillor Cathy Gardner | East Devon Watch
East Devon Alliance - Independents working for you - Posts | Facebook
There are plenty of 'big issues' at stake:
Futures Forum: How fake news misdirects us from the elephant in the room
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.
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As too was the FT:
Local councils to see central funding fall 77% by 2020
Local Government Association estimates a £5.8bn funding gap
JULY 4, 2017
Councils in England are calling for the end of austerity, saying the UK government plans to slash their core funding 77 per cent.
Local councils to see central funding fall 77% by 2020
And the Local Government Association was calling for council tax rises to cope:
Council tax 'should be increased to cover £5.8bn local funding gap'
Ministers under mounting pressure to ease austerity as local authorities warn services will be scrapped
Monday 3 July 2017
Local authorities are urging the Government to lift the cap on council tax bills in a bid to close a looming funding gap that will leave them billions of pounds short to provide affordable homes, school places and social care.
The Local Government Association (LGA) called for the change as it revealed local councils are facing a £5.8bn funding gap by the end of the decade as a result of a 75 per cent drop in core central government funding between 2015 and 2020.
Between 2015 and 2020, the Revenue Support Grant will have shrunk 77p in the pound, the Local Government Association says.
Council tax 'should be increased to cover £5.8bn local funding gap' | The Independent
In other words, it is not too radical to propose more funding, or at least different funding to local government - as suggested by an opposition Councillor at the District Council:
Ministers under mounting pressure to ease austerity as local authorities warn services will be scrapped
Monday 3 July 2017
Local authorities are urging the Government to lift the cap on council tax bills in a bid to close a looming funding gap that will leave them billions of pounds short to provide affordable homes, school places and social care.
The Local Government Association (LGA) called for the change as it revealed local councils are facing a £5.8bn funding gap by the end of the decade as a result of a 75 per cent drop in core central government funding between 2015 and 2020.
Between 2015 and 2020, the Revenue Support Grant will have shrunk 77p in the pound, the Local Government Association says.
Council tax 'should be increased to cover £5.8bn local funding gap' | The Independent
In other words, it is not too radical to propose more funding, or at least different funding to local government - as suggested by an opposition Councillor at the District Council:
“HOBSON’S CHOICE CUT OR CUT?” SAYS EAST DEVON ALLIANCE COUNCILLOR CATHY GARDNER
21 JAN 2018
“East Devon’s MP wrote a column for the Sidmouth Herald (“View from Westminster”, 12 Jan 2018) saying that that as a District Councillor I “will be tested” by “funding pressures”. I am indeed very unhappy about the cuts made to all public services due to the “choice” made by this government to pursue austerity. We should consider why our representative in Parliament has always made the “choice” to vote with the government on austerity cuts while publicly speaking out against bed cuts in London (Brompton Hospital), not East Devon.”
[see here:
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/08/05/more-on-swire-saving-services-at-royal-brompton-hospital-london/
and here
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/12/03/swire-fails-to-save-another-hospital/
“All Councils have had their government funding drastically reduced. There is no sign that this funding will ever return, leaving our infrastructure to deteriorate. EDDCs controlling party made a “choice” not to increase council tax for five years and proudly crowed about it, thus reducing the amount available in the coffers to help fund services now.
EDDC are looking at ways to cut even more and I will be asking for essential services like free and unrestricted access to public toilets to be protected over things like art galleries. Don’t get me wrong, I would prefer not to cut anything at all, but public toilets are a public health matter and must be defended. Youth services should also be prioritised as money spent there tends to be saved elsewhere in the system. These are the “choices” that the District Council faces. We will see what the controlling Conservative group chose to prioritise when the budget is approved at the end of February.”
Cllr Cathy Gardner, East Devon Alliance and ward member for Sidmouth town
Source: East Devon Alliance Facebook page posted today
“Hobson’s choice cut or cut?” says East Devon Alliance councillor Cathy Gardner | East Devon Watch
East Devon Alliance - Independents working for you - Posts | Facebook
There are plenty of 'big issues' at stake:
Futures Forum: How fake news misdirects us from the elephant in the room
.
.
.
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