Council funding matters because it’s about the services people rely on every day, and there is no doubt the 14 lost years under the previous government took it’s toll on the very services which make places decent.
As a former Minister in charge of council funding, I’ve seen first-hand how decisions made in Westminster land on the ground. Today’s Local Government Finance Settlement is about beginning the work of putting things right.
Under the last Conservative multi-year settlement, Oldham was short-changed with cuts after cuts.
Now compare that to this Labour Government’s plan.
For the coming three years, Oldham Council’s budget will increase by £103.2 million, a 37% boost. Of this £52.2m is new funding provided through the Fair Funding Review. I was pleased in my tenure to create the Recovery Grant for councils like Oldham, who have done everything asked by the previous government but the cuts simply went too deep. That £8m a year boost on top of the settlement will continue each and every year for the coming three years.
That’s real money for real priorities:
protecting vital local services
backing our communities
giving Oldham Council the stability it needs to plan ahead
For Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton, and right across the borough, this settlement is about fairness and finally giving our towns the backing they deserve.
But it’s not the end of the job. It will take time to repair the services people rely on, and I believe more is needed from Treasury to build back. Councils will still face the difficult decisions with demand rocketing on adult social care, children’s services and temporary accommodation, and they have my support in working through that.
Finally, a Thank You to councillors serving in Oldham. I know times haven’t been easy and you’ve had to fight hard to keep going. I hope you can see that hasn’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 