Conor McGinn, MP for St Helens North, has highlighted that the country’s poorest councils are set to lose хЃ198 more per head than the average English local authority, and hit out at government for the ‘unjust allocation of local government funding.’
Research by the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA), shows that between 2010/11 and 2017/18 the poorest authorities will see an estimated loss of funding of хЃ685 per head, compared to the English average of хЃ487.
McGinn has criticised the unfair allocation of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, which will force poorer local authorities to make further cutbacks to public services, which could hit libraries and children’s services.
In St Helens, the local council will see its spending power reduced by хЃ92 per household just in 2017/18, compared to the average English reduction of хЃ76.
Commenting McGinn said:
“This settlement means less money is now available for local authorities to spend on public services in deprived areas, and critical services are being put at risk.
“As a result the poorest are being hit hardest under this Government, at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet.
“Councils should be treated fairly, but further unfair cuts have been forced onto local authorities.
“Councils like St Helens are doing a great job in face of large scale cuts, but further cuts imposed by the Tories will have a major impact on the public services that my constituents rely on.”