Agenda item

In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motion has been received for consideration:

Impact of the Government’s Autumn Statement on Local Government Finance

To be moved by Councillor Richard Henry and seconded by Councillor Jeannette Thomas.

“That:

1.      This Council notes with deep concern the significant impact of de-funding local government by Conservative-led governments since 2010.

2.      This Council recognises that local government in England has been actively stripped of funding under successive Conservative-led governments, including the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Alliance government. All English local authorities have been forced to cut spending on nearly every aspect of their services since 2010. Poorer areas have been hit disproportionately, leading to councils having to make harsh cuts, including to services such as parks, libraries, refuse collection, and children's centres. Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the Chair and leaders of the four main parties in the Local Government Association (LGA) wrote an open letter to the Chancellor warning of “low financial resilience across the sector following a 27.0 per cent real-terms reduction in core spending power¹ since 2010/11. The Local Government Association estimates that there is a “funding gap” of almost £3bn over the next two years.

3.    This Council notes that since 2010, several councils have issued Section 114 notices (under the Local Government Finance Act 1988) and more look likely to follow. Both the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Councils Network (CCN) undertook surveys of their member councils immediately after the Autumn Statement. The Local Government Association reported findings of a "growing financial crisis”, with almost one in five of its members at risk of running out of funds either this year or next.

Impact of the Government’s Autumn Statement on Local GovernmentFinance

Councillor Richard Henry moved and Councillor Jeannette Thomas seconded the motion set out in the agenda papers.

During the debate, Councillor Henry agreed to accept a suggested re-wording of the second paragraph of the motion from “Conservative-Liberal Democrat Alliance government” to “Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government”.

Following further debate, and upon the re-wording motion being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED that:

1.      This Council notes with deep concern the significant impact of de-funding local government by Conservative-led governments since 2010.

2.      This Council recognises that local government in England has been actively stripped of funding under successive Conservative-led governments, including the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Alliance government. All English local authorities have been forced to cut spending on nearly every aspect of their services since 2010. Poorer areas have been hit disproportionately, leading to councils having to make harsh cuts, including to services such as parks, libraries, refuse collection, and children's centres. Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the Chair and leaders of the four main parties in the Local Government Association (LGA) wrote an open letter to the Chancellor warning of “low financial resilience across the sector following a 27.0 per cent real-terms reduction in core spending power¹ since 2010/11. The Local Government Association estimates that there is a “funding gap” of almost £3bn over the next two years.

3.    This Council notes that since 2010, several councils have issued Section 114 notices (under the Local Government Finance Act 1988) and more look likely to follow. Both the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Councils Network (CCN) undertook surveys of their member councils immediately after the Autumn Statement. The Local Government Association reported findings of a "growing financial crisis”, with almost one in five of its members at risk of running out of funds either this year or next.

Impact of the Government’s Autumn Statement on Local GovernmentFinance

Councillor Richard Henry moved and Councillor Jeannette Thomas seconded the motion set out in the agenda papers.

During the debate, Councillor Henry agreed to accept a suggested re-wording of the second paragraph of the motion from “Conservative-Liberal Democrat Alliance government” to “Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government”.

Following further debate, and upon the re-wording motion being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED that:

1.      This Council notes with deep concern the significant impact of de-funding local government by Conservative-led governments since 2010.

2.      This Council recognises that local government in England has been actively stripped of funding under successive Conservative-led governments, including the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Alliance government. All English local authorities have been forced to cut spending on nearly every aspect of their services since 2010. Poorer areas have been hit disproportionately, leading to councils having to make harsh cuts, including to services such as parks, libraries, refuse collection, and children's centres. Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the Chair and leaders of the four main parties in the Local Government Association (LGA) wrote an open letter to the Chancellor warning of “low financial resilience across the sector following a 27.0 per cent real-terms reduction in core spending power¹ since 2010/11. The Local Government Association estimates that there is a “funding gap” of almost £3bn over the next two years.

3.    This Council notes that since 2010, several councils have issued Section 114 notices (under the Local Government Finance Act 1988) and more look likely to follow. Both the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Councils Network (CCN) undertook surveys of their member councils immediately after the Autumn Statement. The Local Government Association reported findings of a "growing financial crisis”, with almost one in five of its members at risk of running out of funds either this year or next.