News

Minister of State, Barbara Roche met with representatives from Poole yesterday to discuss the Council's funding for services from April 2003-March 2004.

Currently, under the provisional settlement from the Government, Poole is facing £3million cuts in addition to a substantial increase in Council Tax in order to provide Council services in the coming year.

Cllr Brian Clements, Leader of the Council, said: "This meeting gave us a good opportunity to raise many important concerns with the Minister about the impact of the proposed financial settlement on Poole residents. The Government's new funding calculations mean that from April, Poole will receive significantly less in national funding for services. If more money is not available, this will put an even greater burden on Council Tax payers, in an area where many people are on fixed incomes and can ill afford the increase."

Cllr Brian Leverett, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, said: It is very important that the Government is made aware of the situation in Poole where higher than average house prices, below average salaries and ever increasing Council Tax are causing real hardship to many Poole residents."

Cllr Brian Ellis, Leader of the Labour Group, said: "We advised the Minister that education is Poole's top priority and that in spite of being one of the lowest funded education authorities, our schools have made outstanding achievements. However recent changes in funding will still leave each Poole pupil £400 worse off than the national average at a time when extra funding is needed to address teacher workloads. Whilst the Minister could not promise more funding for education, our points were well received and we were urged to contact the Department of Education and Skills directly on this issue."

Cllr Brian Clements, added: "The Minister listened to our case and accepted many of our concerns. Over the coming weeks, we will continue examining budgets and reducing costs where we can to ensure we provide efficient services which are vital to meeting the needs and expectations of local people. I hope that the Government will use the evidence we presented today to ensure that Poole receives a fairer share of Government funding to provide essential services to all our residents."

The delegation included:

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole

Robert Syms, MP for Poole

Cllr Brian Clements, Leader of Borough of Poole

Cllr Brian Leverett, Deputy Leader of Conservative Group

Cllr Brian Ellis, Leader of Labour Group

John McBride, Chief Executive

Bob Jackson, Head of Finance