READING BOROUGH COUNCIL is one of 27 local authorities that has joined a campaign demanding urgent action on the funding gap they face – before more councils go under.
Key Cities is a cross-party coalition that wants to see a £4bn funding boost which they say will halt the collapse of local government, and reset the relationship between local and central government. They say this funding need has been identified by the Levelling Up Select Committee, and it is imperative Government changes how funds for local services are dispensed, to allocate grants based on the reality of a local authority’s current tax bases and needs.
The Key Cities manifesto sets out a range of policy recommendations that focus on the stretched areas of local government, will improve the finances of councils, and mitigate long-term, unsustainable risks for national government.
Areas they want to see changes in include council tax reform; social care funding; housing and homelessness, and net zero.
Some of the key asks include:
Providing £1.5bn additional funding to support Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Ringfencing funding for children’s social care based on actual local need
Reforming funding for adult social care with a long-term commitment to remove the precept
Reforming funding for ageing populations with premiums directed to local authorities with the most acute need as part of fair funding review
Reinstating national housebuilding targets
Increasing funding for supporting the delivery and management of temporary accommodation
Introducing new regulations to give local authorities powers to create net zero investment ecosystems based on local needs.
They argue devolving power to local governments will allow leaders to ensure long-term success.
Cllr John Merry, Chair of Key Cities and Deputy Mayor of Salford City Council, said: “Since its foundation a decade ago, Key Cities has advocated for municipal government and has consistently called for more financial capacity to be granted to local authorities, along with the power to allocate resources in the most beneficial way for their community.
“This need has now become acute with many local authorities of all colours experiencing an unsustainable strain on funding and resources, placing even statutory services at risk.
“The recent Budget offered nothing to remedy the situation.
“It is therefore crucial that whoever comes to power at the next election addresses this crisis on day one, by committing to a new fair funding outcome and rethinking the relationship between national and local government.”
He continued: “Our local authorities should have the autonomy to drive positive change in their communities, with devolved powers and funding to enable them to thrive in the long term. I hope that all political parties will take note of our manifesto when developing their own policies for the upcoming election.”
This view was echoed by Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Co-Chair of the Key Cities APPG, who said:
“With councils up and down the country in a state of crisis, it’s imperative that the next administration takes decisive action to stabilise local government and ensure local communities have access to the services they need and deserve.
“With its cross-party membership, Key Cities is an authoritative and unified voice for UK cities. This Manifesto shines a light on the major issues affecting our urban areas and offers practical recommendations to remedy them. Policymakers, take note.”
The Key Cities member councils include: Bath and North East Somerset; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Blackpool; Bradford; Cumberland; Colchester; Coventry; Exeter; Gloucester; Hull, Kirklees; Lancaster; Lincoln; Medway; Newport; Norwich; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Preston; Reading; Salford; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stoke-on-Trent; Sunderland; Wolverhampton and Wrexham.
