Leader speaks out on Local Government Settlement

Article date: December 21 2023

Council Leader Councillor David Baines spoke out after government confirmed they would once again expect councils to raise council tax in order to close some of their budget gap, rather than provide the necessary funding centrally.

Last month cross-party support was given at Full Council to a motion brought by Cllr Baines calling for fair funding for services across St Helens Borough, and a letter - co-signed by dozens of representatives from local public, private and third sector organisations - was sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt MP, outlining the urgent need for additional funding to address the financial pressures particularly in adult and children's social care putting on organisations across the borough. 

Cllr David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: "Across our communities residents are continuing to suffer because of the cost-of-living emergency coming on top of a decade of lost growth and the pandemic, and the essential service providers who exist to support people are themselves on their knees. It's a perfect storm.

"The letter myself, councillors from all parties, and dozens of local representatives co-signed made clear to the Chancellor the real-life consequences of the crisis, with rising numbers of people struggling and turning to the council and its partners for support. And it's not just St Helens which is affected - councils and other essential service providers across the country have all made the same argument. Public services everywhere are in desperate need of fair funding.

"Together, we had hoped that the urgency of the situation would be recognised in the funding settlement but sadly yet again communities have been ignored.

"Myself, our council, and partners from across our local communities will continue to make the case for fair funding, and we'll do everything we can to support people through these difficult times."