Green Council leaders call for funding boost in this weeks Budget
Ahead of the Labour government’s first Budget on Wednesday, Green Party Council leaders are warning of the urgent need for proper funding for local councils and services, after many years of damaging austerity.
Local Government Association analysis shows that service spending in 2022/23 was 42.1% lower than it would have been had service spend moved in line with cost and demand pressures since 2010/11. This means that councils have made £24.5 billion in service cuts and efficiencies over this period [1].
Local councils deliver a huge range of statutory services, from child protection to waste and recycling services and temporary accommodation. They are also uniquely placed for real action on achieving net zero and to protect and restore other services vital to health and wellbeing in the community such as sports, arts, leisure and green spaces.
Tony Dyer, Green leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“Local Government provides many of our most essential services, from social care, to education and affordable housing. After years of cuts, if we do not see a real terms increase in local government funding then these services will falter and our communities will suffer.
“We desperately need a boost to our funding to enable proper resourcing of core and statutory services, especially those creating the most pressure on council finances such as adult social care, children services such as SEND, and temporary accommodation provision.”
Cllr Heather Mack, Deputy Leader on Bristol City Council, said:
“Bristol City council is facing a budget gap of £52m next year, along with an in year overspend of £19m. These are legacies of the previous Labour administration’s ineptitude and failure to deliver savings. Greens are now committed to working with others, and the whole of the city to restore trust and ensure we provide the quality services you expect. To do this we need the Labour Government to support local councils with more funds, which could easily be provided through a wealth tax.”
Carla Denyer, Green MP for Bristol Central and former Councillor on Bristol City Council said:
“Tomorrow we’re going to see the first budget from the Labour government – I’m hoping that they take this opportunity to make some bold decisions. Our NHS, our schools, care for our elderly loved ones – fourteen years of Tory underinvestment has left these and all our public services in crisis. We deserve better. It’s clear that the country just can’t afford to spend another five years with the services we need day to day crumbling around us.
“Labour campaigned in the election on a manifesto of change – so now it’s time to deliver. Real change that people will see around them in a tangible way – in the hospitals they visit when they’re ill, in their kids’ education, in affordable and reliable bus services to get around.
“Because real change is a political choice. The money to fund our public services is available – by taxing the super-rich. We need to government bold and ambitious. Let’s see if Labour can deliver.”
Ellie Chowns, Green MP for North Herefordshire and former cabinet member for environment, economy and skills on Herefordshire Council, said:
“After so many years of austerity, local councils absolutely need the funding to deliver those basic services which everyone uses. Getting the basics right at local level is essential for the government to deliver on bigger national plans. Now is the time for a new government to set a new course for renewed investment in local public services.”
Read more of our news from Bristol and beyond at Bristol News https://directlocalbristol.co.uk/bristol-news/
