Rachel has welcomed the Labour Government’s announcement that Warwickshire County Council will get a £159.9 million cash injection for essential services – a huge 29% increase in the Council’s spending power.
She also hailed sizeable increases in council funding for Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council of 13%, and for North Warwickshire Borough Council of 6%. Under the Conservatives, the two borough councils’ funding was cut by 6% and 10% respectively 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 Warwickshire.
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.”
Rachel said:
“I fought hard for extra funding, so I’m over the moon that our Labour government is increasing council funding for Nuneaton and Bedworth by 13%, North Warwickshire by 6%, and for Warwickshire by a whopping 29%.
“Under the Conservatives, local government funding was gutted, with the result being shuttered youth services, potholed roads, and bus routes axed. At the last election Labour promised voters we end the decline and invest in our communities again, and that is exactly what we are doing.”