Extra cash brings joy for Lincolnshire - but county says it's not enough
The government has pledged more funding for councils in Lincolnshire, but there have been very different responses from leaders.
While the City of Lincoln Council describes it as “fantastic news”, which means it won’t need to make cuts, Lincolnshire County Council says it’s only enough to stand still.
The government has hailed the extra money as the end of a “decade of cuts” for local authorities, enabling them to invest in vital services.
It also outlines how much they will receive for the next three years, giving them a greater ability to plan ahead.
The City of Lincoln’s core spending power (how much funding is available to spend) will be £3.4million higher in 2028/29 than in the last year (a 19 per cent rise).
Lincolnshire County Council’s income will be £214million higher – a 30 per cent rise – although just under half would come from higher council tax.
Lincoln’s leader Coun Naomi Tweddle (Labour) said: “The government’s announcement of its local government funding settlement is fantastic news for the people of Lincoln.
“It provides much-needed clarity on the future of our finances after years of uncertainty and short-term planning by previous governments.
“These additional funds will help us make a significant difference for our residents. We worked with partner councils and the city’s MP to press our case to get the fairest deal for Lincoln and I’m very pleased we have been listened to and our concerns have been addressed.
“The settlement removes the need to deliver £1.75million of annual savings, while also covering the costs of implementing the national food waste recycling collection scheme.
“This multi-year settlement makes it much easier for us to plan and continue to invest in the future of our city while delivering essential services that meet the needs of our residents.”
However, Lincolnshire County Council says the extra money won’t go far enough and comes with extra responsibilities.
Reform leader Coun Sean Matthews said: “Although the provisional figures we’ve had from the government gives us some additional funding, it’s important to note that the extra money in no way meets our increasing costs as an authority to just ‘stand still’ and keep providing exactly the same services in the same way.
“The funding stated by the government is our ‘spending power’, and this relies on (and includes the money from) us increasing council tax by the maximum amount possible every year.
“We will be delivering on our promises to our residents who elected us, by finding millions of pounds of savings in next year’s budget – by eliminating any wasteful spending, but also by doing things differently.
“We have also inherited a legacy of debt from the previous administration, and we are working on ways to prevent unnecessary borrowing in future years. The first draft budget proposals will be considered at our executive meeting in January.”
He also expressed surprise at how late in the financial year the announcement had come.
The government says it’s directing extra funding to places which were left behind under the Conservatives.
Secretary of State Steve Reed said: “This is a chance to turn the page on a decade of cuts, and for local leaders to invest in getting back what has been lost – to bring back libraries, youth services, clean streets, and community hubs.
“We’re making sure every community has the funding they need to succeed.”