Government underfunds North Somerset using 13 year old population data

4.15.47pm GMT Mon 1st Nov 2004

The Government is using 13 year old population data to decide funding levels for North Somerset

North Somerset could be losing out on millions of pounds worth of funding because the Government is not using the latest 2001 census data in its 2005-06 allocation of money for local councils.

Instead data from the previous census in 1991 will continue to be used.

Councillor Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for the Woodspring Constituency, has criticised the decision to use population statistics that are more than 13 years old, and has called on the Government to provide North Somerset with the right level of funding.

Mike Bell said: "Between 1991 and 2001 the population of North Somerset increased 9,400. It is a scandal that the Government are continuing to use the old population statistics from 13 years ago to allocate funding to our district.

"The result is a shortfall of millions of pounds that will have to be paid for either by cutting services or increasing the Council Tax. With major on-going developments in Portishead and Weston-super-Mare, the 2001 census data is already going out-of-date, let alone the 1991 statistics.

"North Somerset is getting a raw deal from the national Government, which currently provides hundreds of pounds a year less than the national average for every school pupil in the district.

"The Government is claiming that using the most recent census data from 2001 to update the local government funding formula is 'not a simple task'. It may not be, but that is their job, and there is no reason why people living in North Somerset should lose out because of the incompetence of Government ministers."