A council leader says George Osborne’s budget could ‘leave Nottinghamshire behind’ after other parts of the UK were promised a devolution deal.
Alan Rhodes of Nottinghamshire County Council said that while Manchester and London ‘cashed in’ on the Chancellor’s infrastructure investment plans, Notts was overlooked.
Around £50m was pledged for high speed rail project, HS3 from Manchester to Leeds, and £161m for the M62 around Greater Manchester, and Cllr Rhodes said there was a lack of investment for Nottinghamshire.
He added he was also ‘extremely disappointed’ that funding for the proposed extension of the Robin Hood Line was also not forthcoming.
He said: “With more than 40 per cent of the council’s reducing budget already being spent on social care services for the elderly and disabled, it is inevitable that some of the services will be affected by future cuts.
We will not let Notts be left behind
“Yet again, another opportunity to address the funding crisis in social care has been missed.”
But the Chancellor has maintained the Midlands, including Notts, has a “crucial role to play” in improving the economy and insisted money pledged in Wednesday’s announcement would help the area.
Allr Rhodes added: “I am extremely disappointed that funding for projects such as the extension of the Robin Hood Line to Ollerton, funding for faster east-west rail services from Nottingham to Birmingham, and desperately-needed new Enterprise Zones have once again not been forthcoming – despite the Chancellor previously saying that he supported them.”
The announcement of the 2016 Budget also raised questions over devolution for the county – and many complained that not enough power was being given to Nottinghamshire despite a deal being reached in the West Midlands.
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire councils have now long been in talks with the Government over more powers – which could have involved an elected mayor for Notts and greater say on how cash is spent on infrastructure, health and education.
Cllr Rhodes said: “We will continue to lobby Ministers and local MPs for funding for individual projects – we cannot and will not allow Nottinghamshire to be left behind while resources go elsewhere.”
Left out?: Budget gaps county council says will leave Notts neglected
- No funding for Robin Hood line extension
- No new Enterprise Zones for Notts
- Cuts of £3.5bn across the UK by 2020
- Lack of investment in Notts roads
The Chancellor announced his eighth budget on Wednesday.
Part of the lans for the new financial year were to introduce a sugar tax, bring in new lifetime ISAs and tax cuts for low earners.
Osborne also announced that the UK would also have to make a further £3.5bn in savings – you can see the full budget in our special report.
Chancellor George Osborne said: “The Midlands has a crucial role to play in rebalancing our economy and with the budget we are making sure that we are building on the action we [have] taken since 2010 to make it an engine for growth for the UK’s economy.”
