Government funding cuts branded ‘disgraceful’ as Nottingham is amongst hardest hit

Council chiefs in Nottingham have launched a scathing attack on central Government after the City Council was slapped with a £30m funding cut.

The cash-strapped authority has seen 29 per cent of its main Government grant axed and is now having to identify a series of savings proposals to tackle the deficit.

Commenting on the cuts, the council’s deputy leader, Councillor Graham Chapman, blasted them as disgraceful.

He said: “Once again, Nottingham has been hit harder than leafy affluent places in the south and south-east, when the City Council serves some of the most deprived community in the country who need support the most.”

“It is Nottingham people, including many who are vulnerable, who are bearing the brunt of these Government cuts at the expense of people in other places who are better off and don’t necessarily need the same level of support.”

Since 2010, Nottingham City Council has seen its funding shrink by £72m, meaning it has had to slash millions of pounds off its budgets over the past four years.

Once again, Nottingham has been hit harder than leafy affluent places in the south and south-east.”

“This settlement from the Government indicates, as we feared, that our Government grant is set to fall from £103m this year to £13m in 2019/20.” Cllr Chapman added.

“That is a bleak prospect where council services will be reduced to the bare bones and much of the support that vulnerable and needy people expect and deserve in a caring society will be gone.”

As part of the savings, the authority is set to put in place a proposed council tax increase of 1.95%.

Commenting on the cuts, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the Taxpayer’s Alliance, said: “Britain is £1.4 trillion in debt, and that means we need to find savings right across the whole of Government.

“There remain efficiencies to be found, and savings to be made, and we have to bring the bill down. Britain must live within its means once again.”

 

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