Cash Strapped Local Councils told "Prepare for No Deal Brexit" as Government Adds Insult to Injury
Our District Councils handed £35,000 to spend over two years to prepare for a No Deal!
The Government's generosity has no bounds as local councils, struggling to even run just the most basic services are handed derisory payments and told to prepare for the shambles that is the Tory Brexit.
Year upon year the Conservative Government has eroded local government down to the bare bones. Facing huge funding gaps in the most basic of services, it is now being asked to squeeze its budgets for a No Deal Brexit!
On the 31st January,Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire MP, wrote to local Councils to say,
'"The Government is clear about the important role local government will play in ensuring our successful transition. .. "I am absolutely committed to both support local government and champion the sector's interests across Whitehall as we prepare for Brexit'. After informing them of a new Website he said, the check-list ... sets out the main ways in which Brexit is expected to affect your council's business. I hope this will help you in identifying and prioritising the actions you need to take.
He then goes on to say: "Across the two years, all district councils will receive £35,000, all county councils will receive £175,000.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Local Government Wera Hobhouse* said: "Asking cash-strapped councils to prepare for a no deal when it is in the Government's gift to rule it out is nothing short of an insult to local services"."With local government being eroded at every opportunity and councils struggling to even run just the most basic services, to add this burden for no reason other than to scaremonger support for the Prime Minister's already defeated deal is utterly shameful"."The only way out of this chaos is to give the public a final say, with the option to remain in the EU."
"There are no words to describe how it felt to receive this letter, said Leader of Sutton Council, Cllr Ruth Dombey. 'Local government is being disregarded and facing funding cut after funding cut. Adult social care is facing a £3.6 billion funding gap by 2025, yet the Conservative Government have yet again delayed the publication of the Social Care Green Paper to outline how this vital service can be funded.
Deputy Leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group Ruth added: Tories are wasting the public's time and money navel-gazing and it is having a damaging effect on our communities."
To read the letter form SoS Housing, Communities and Local Government, click on link below.
* In the February 2019 reshuffle of Lib Dem spokespeople, Tim Farron has taken on the Local Government role.
THE BROKENSHIRE RECORD
- How James Brokenshire voted on Welfare and Benefits #
- Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes10 votes for, 0 votes against, 8 absences, between 2012-2018
- Generally voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes 0 votes for, 2 votes against, 3 absences, in 2013
- Almost always voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disabilityShow votes0 votes for, 11 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011-2016
- Almost always voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2012
- Generally voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes38 votes for, 0 votes against, 16 absences, between 2012-2016
- Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed Show votes 0 votes for, 8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011-2014
- How James Brokenshire voted on Constitutional Reform #
- Almost always voted for reducing central government funding of local governmentShow votes5 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010-2018
- Consistently voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premisesin their areas Show votes4 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2012-2013
- Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Welsh AssemblyShow votes1 vote for, 21 votes against, 9 absences, between 2016-2018
- Almost always voted against transferring more powers to the Scottish ParliamentShow votes3 votes for, 38 votes against, 5 absences, between 2011-2018
- Generally voted against more powers for local councils Show votes12 votes for, 28 votes against, 12 absences, between 2010-2018
END
