Today, I had the opportunity to scrutinise the Government’s financial settlement on behalf of His Majesty’s Opposition. What we have learnt from this is that the Government is forcing councils to drastically raise council tax precepts, while hammering high street businesses through business rate increases.
Every year, the Government must set out what funding it will give to local authorities across the country. This allows councils to deliver services for local residents from libraries and parks to social services. It often goes overlooked, but local authorities spend upwards of two-thirds of their budget on providing children and adult social care.
When the current Prime Minister was in opposition, he promised not to raise council tax, but in this finance settlement, he has done the opposite, yet again. The settlement that we debated leaves two-thirds of councils in England worse off, piling on the misery from last year’s settlement and tax increases.
Thankfully, with our excellent local councils, my residents will be sheltered from the brunt of council tax increases. Some residents, especially in inner London, can expect up to a £500-a-year increase in their council tax.
While the Government was successful in bringing through its settlement, the Shadow Ministerial team will continue to push Ministers to give greater relief to residents facing the greatest increases this year.
