Polly has welcomed the Labour Government’s announcement that Kent County Council will get a £459 million cash injection for essential services – a 32% increase in the Council’s spending power.
She also hailed the sizeable uplift in funding for Thanet District Council (TDC) of 16%. Under the Conservatives, TDC’s funding was cut by 16% between 2015 and 2020.
Under the Tories, local authorities were starved of investment, with core spending power down by around a quarter since 2010. That put immense pressure on councils up and down the country, including in Kent.
But the Labour Government has announced a radical overhaul of how local government is funded, reversing years of cuts and underinvestment. Fair Funding is the next step on Labour’s journey to reverse a decade and a half of austerity and decline under the Conservatives and build stronger communities.
England’s councils will get over £79 billion for essential services, with more money going to places with the greatest need.
The funding injection is aimed at restoring pride and opportunity in places that have been left behind, to get back what has been lost. Councils will have more resources available to bring back libraries, youth services, clean streets, and community hubs.
The money is part of the first multi-year funding settlement in over a decade, giving councils three years of financial certainty so they can plan ahead rather than firefight year to year.
Labour Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said:
“This is a turning point, a chance to turn the page on a decade of cuts and callousness, and for local leaders to invest in getting back what has been lost – to bring back libraries, youth services, clean streets, and community hubs.
“For too long, deprived communities were left behind. Today we’re ending the postcode lottery so everyone can access the services their community deserves.”
Polly said:
“I fought hard for extra funding, because I know that our public services and local infrastructure need significant investment. These increases in funding are an important part of improving things we care about like buses, bin collections, and fixing potholes.
“Under the Conservatives, local government funding was gutted, with the result being shuttered youth services, potholed roads, and heritage assets flogged off. At the last election Labour promised voters we will end the decline and invest in our communities again, so I really welcome this much-needed extra funding.”