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"Give us a fair share" Council asks Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
As part of its campaign for a fairer share of Government funding, the Leader of Bromley Council has written to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister asking for a meeting. Councillor Carr wants to put the case to him for a better deal for the people of Bromley. This is the fourth year running when the Council is unlikely to get enough money from Government through its formula grant even to cover the cost of inflation. And, he argues, when this is taken alongside Bromley’s failure to qualify for other Government grants, the people of Bromley are just not getting their fair share financially.
At a time when Sir Michael Lyons is reviewing local government funding generally, the Council argues that boroughs such as Bromley are too readily dismissed as being affluent with no recognition of the very real pockets of severe deprivation and special needs that can exist in an area. This lack of recognition denies Bromley Government money enjoyed by other boroughs.
Said Council Leader, Stephen Carr: “Of course funds must be directed to areas of greatest need. But a system of funding that means Bromley will not get any additional grant other than for schools for four years cannot be justified. Neither can one that doesn’t take account of the problems of less affluent parts of the borough where many of our services are vital to the well-being of the community. Time and again the people of Bromley miss out and we will be arguing strongly for a more sophisticated system of funding that takes account of areas of need in otherwise affluent areas.
My letter forms part of a wider campaign about the financial support central Government gives Bromley and about the systemic problem of funding for local government generally. Not only has this system resulted in Bromley receiving a low level of financial support for four years, but it means the Government is now determining the level of funding for schools and dictating how local authorities spend their money through specific grants for social services and education. Taken with the fact that the GLA is dictating planning decisions through the London Plan, the Council is concerned that this situation is undermining local accountability.”
In the letter to the ODPM, the Council points to the need for a comprehensive approach to funding across the whole of a given area. It has asked for a comparison with other London boroughs on the total funding given to all agencies such as the police, the health service and the Council.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Day, Communications Officer, on 020 8313 4490, or email amanda.day@bromley.gov.uk.