BLACKBURN with Darwen council leader Kate Hollern and MP Jack Straw yesterday told local government minister Brandon Lewis that imposing a one fifth cut in the borough’s Whitehall grant was penalising its residents.
They went to Westminster to call for a rethink so local people got a fair deal..
The meeting followed the local government settlement leaving the Council facing cuts of £27m (20 per cent of total budget).
This follows previous reductions of £40m.
Coun Hollern and Blackburn MP Mr Straw told Mr Lewis about the borough’s strengths and challenges. The meeting focussed on the grant calculations, and council financial planning.
Coun Hollern said: “These funding cuts are impossible to absorb without causing real misery.
“We have to be realistic about the prospect of extra funding though I’m hopeful that our points about a fair deal and time to plan will be taken on board.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel