What have you done to get some extra Government Funding?

We have written to our two local MP’s to seek their support and the Local Government Association who represent common issues of concern to the Government on behalf off Councils.  We have also written to the Treasurer at Worcester City Council who is monitoring the position on behalf of all District Councils and is meeting with Government Officials.

Norman Baker MP organised a meeting with the Rt. Hon Rosie Winterton MP Minister of State for Transport and a delegation attended comprising Norman Baker MP, Councillors Jon Freeman (Lewes District Council), Robert Standley (Wealden District Council) and Ann Norman (Brighton and Hove City Council) Cabinet, plus John Magness Director of Finance and Community Services (Lewes District Council). A briefing paper was left with the Minister and a copy of this can be downloaded form the relevant document link below.

The Lewes position was explained in terms of the Council supporting the scheme which complemented its own environmental policies and helped people maintain their mobility and independence. Also highlighted was the unfunded increase of £739,000 equivalent to an average annual band D tax of £9.79 over each of the two years, and equivalent to a 5.6% annual tax increase compared with 2007/08. This was compared with the actual tax rise for 2008/09 of 4.7% which meant that the Council had suffered a real term reduction in resources available for the majority of its services.

As a result, the rising cost of the concessionary travel scheme has caused difficult choices for the Council, and savings are being made in the cost of the services that we provide.

The Minister made it clear that there was enough funding nationally and that no more would be forthcoming. There was also a hint that electronic card machines would be installed on buses earlier than planned and that the administration may be transferred to County Councils so that funding fluctuations would be evened out over a wider area in future.