Councillors to press for fair share from Minister

12.00.00am GMT Wed 4th Jan 2006

A high level delegation from North Somerset Council will be heading to Whitehall next week to meet Local Government Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP to fight for a fairer share of government cash for local services.

The delegation will be headed by Liberal Democrat council leader Councillor Alan Hockridge and the executive member for finance Councillor Mike Bell.

The government grant settlement for North Somerset is £41.963 million, compared to last year's £40.894 million, an increase of £1.070 million. However, the council faces inflationary pressures alone of £3.5 million, excluding schools services.

Historically, local authorities in the South West have been underfunded when compared to the national average. North Somerset Council is the fifth worst funded of all the unitary councils in England.

Cllr Alan Hockridge said: "We are determined to spell out to the Minister the consequences of year-on-year underfunding of local services.

"We have worked hard to identify savings of more than £7 million for next year in order to keep the levels of council tax low.

"However, without a fairer share of the national cake we simply cannot continue to meet the twin challenges of rising demand from local people and imposed responsibilities from central government.

"North Somerset's council tax is below the national average and we have been able to keep the council tax rise below 5% - just as we promised we would and just as the government has demanded.

"However much more needs to be done. The current method of allocating the grant is flawed and short-changes North Somerset every year."

Cllr Mike Bell added: "According to the Government's own figures, for the year from April alone £1.2 million has been taken away from North Somerset and given to other councils elsewhere in the country. That decision adds 2% to local council tax and pushes the rise above inflation.

"We are not simply holding out the begging bowl or blaming the government. We have already done a great deal ourselves to work more efficiently and effectively and we will do more.

"We are delivering improving services - as the latest inspections of childrens services and social services have proved. But we are ambitious to improve North Somerset still further and make this an even better place to live, work and visit. To do that, we must have a fair deal."

The delegation from North Somerset Council will meet the Minister on Tuesday 10th January.

Jim Fitzpatrick MP is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He works with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on local government issues.