Cornwall Council’s Cabinet has called for clarity from the Government over its future funding deals ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget next month.
In July, there was unanimous support for a motion calling for Fairer Funding for Cornwall following a debate at Full Council after councillors highlighted high levels of deprivation, higher costs for projects, and rural geography as reasons for the need for a fair share of funding for residents.
A joint letter was sent to the new Prime Minister following the debate to raise the issue, but no response has been received to date.
Speaking during a meeting of the Cabinet at County Hall (Lys Kernow) today, Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of the council, said: "Following the debate at the Full Council in July, we wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister highlighting the unanimous support the motion calling for fairer funding for Cornwall had received.
"I am disappointed to report that we have yet to receive a response, which is why Cllr David Harris included it within the submission he made last week in an effort to influence the Chancellor’s Autum Statement and ensure the gravity of our financial situation is understood.
"We will of course continue to apply pressure ourselves and work with Cornwall’s MPs to ensure we can secure the best possible outcome for our residents, and ensure Cornwall no longer receives below average funding which fails to cover the cost of the demand-led services we provide.
"Hand in hand with this, as we have also highlighted previously, we are currently in a position where we have no direct replacement for the Shared Prosperity Funding which is due to end next Spring.
"I’m grateful to the MP for Truro and Falmouth, Jayne Kirkham, for raising this issue in the House of Commons and we will continue to call for clarity on the situation as quickly as possible.
"I have heard Government continually promising to sort out funding for councils, but it is time for action, not words and I hope they will give us the details we need sooner rather than later to allow us to begin planning with clarity."
Her words were echoed by Cllr David Harris, deputy leader and portfolio holder for resources, who, during a discussion on the council’s latest performance report, told the meeting that clarity over future funding was needed immediately, and confirmed he has written to the Treasury.
Also on the agenda at the meeting were the Corserv business plan for 2024-28, and the council’s Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements.
During the meeting, Cllr Taylor also resolved to write to the Government asking them to reconsider the decision to stop winter fuel payments for pensioners not in receipt of pensions credit.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of the council, said: “I am pleased we have highlighted the desperate need for clarity over funding going forwards, we cannot plan accurately without knowing the resources we will have available to us.
“I am also happy to be writing to the Government on behalf of the council calling for them to reconsider the callous decision to remove the Winter Fuel Allowance and for serious consideration to be given to streamlining the application form for Pension Credits assessment.
“We have more than 100,000 people affected by this in Cornwall, and we must do all we can to protect them from this terrible policy.”
You can watch a recording of today’s meeting via the council’s webcast service.
ENDS
Posted 18 September, 2024