BROMSGROVE Labour Leader, Coun Peter McDonald, has written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt demanding he delivers a fair deal for Bromsgrove in today’s upcoming Autumn Statement.
In the document, Mr Hunt will set out the government’s spending priorities and, Coun McDonald says, has the opportunity to reverse the damaging Conservative cuts that he feels have left many public services struggling to survive.
Coun McDonald added, since 2010, the government had repeatedly cut funding to councils, leaving an increasing number of local authorities warning that they could effectively go bankrupt in the coming months.
The cross-party Local Government Association has warned that a combination of rampant inflation, rising homelessness, and the increased cost of delivering services such as children’s social care mean councils are facing a £4billion funding gap by March 2025.
Coun McDonald said: “Bromsgrove District deserves a fair deal.
“Government funding cuts have been unfairly targeted at areas like Bromsgrove District.
“The Conservative government has cut funding to our area by 40 per cent in real terms since 2010.
“Unfunded pressures are pushing council finances to the brink.
“Local family finances are still recovering from the Conservative government’s disastrous decisions that crashed our economy.
“The government should take responsibility for funding local services, rather than once again forcing councils to increase council tax bills.
“The Chancellor must use the Autumn Statement to deliver the fair deal for Bromsgrove District that we deserve.
“If he cannot do that, the Conservatives should call a general election and give the country the chance to vote in a new government that has a plan to give Bromsgrove its future back.”
