Three Kent MPs call for emergency council funding
MPs are calling for more money to help remove the prospect of local councils having to go bankrupt
Three Kent MPs have put their names to a letter calling on the government to rethink funding levels to local authorities such as Kent County Council (KCC).
Conservative Members of Parliament Damian Green (Ashford), Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) and Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) were among 46 to raise concerns.
Seven former cabinet members, Mr Green and Mr Clark among them, are signatories to the appeal for an emergency injection of funding to struggling councils.
They all signed an open letter to the chancellor Jeremy Hunt asking for him to provide additional funding. They say they were disappointed more wasn't done in the autumn statement.
KCC claims it no longer receives enough central government funding to meet its legal obligations to provide statutory services such as adult social care.
Government chiefs are currently consulting on its final Local Government Finance Settlement, to be published next month. This will confirm how much funding councils in England will receive in 2024/25.
The government recently announced a package of ÂŁ64bn for councils, a figure which fell well short of what council chiefs say they need to operate without dipping into reserves.
The MPs say they are “exceptionally concerned” residents will be faced with a “double whammy” of reductions in services and higher council tax rates in order for councils to deliver a balanced budget.
It echoes concerns repeatedly voiced by KCC leader Cllr Roger Gough about funding levels and the ability to provide its functions without cutting services.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:
"ÂŁ4bn more finding was being made available to councils, an increase of 6.5%, to reflect the pressures they are facing.
“Councils are the backbone of their communities and carry out tremendous work every day in delivering vital services to the people they serve.
“We recognise they are facing challenges and that is why we have announced a £64 billion funding package to ensure they can continue making a difference, including through our combined efforts to level up".