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News

Poole Demands Fair Funding From The Government

Borough of Poole is launching a major campaign to demand a fair funding settlement from  the Government.

Poole's Councillors say the Borough has endured years of under-funding from Westminster and are calling on residents to play an active role and support the cross-party campaign, called "Fair Deal for Poole".

Residents are being urged to sign a Council-organised petition with the aim of delivering it directly to 10 Downing Street. The Fair Deal petition - and a letter addressed to the Prime Minister - is being delivered to 65,000 homes and businesses across the Borough, with the Council's own publication Poole News from 29 January.

Fair Deal collection points will be set up at libraries, leisure centres and other civic buildings in Poole, so residents can return their petitions and letters in support of the campaign.

Poole is the fourth worst-funded Unitary Authority in the country. The Government provides just £169 per person to fund basic services in Poole - less than half the Unitary Authority average of £347.

Since 2002, Government funding for services in Poole has risen by less than £44 for every man, woman and child in the Borough. Average Unitary Authority funding rose by £114 per person over the same period.

The Government's current Formula Funding Share covers the net cost of running a quarter of local services. Borough of Poole estimates that if funded to the Unitary Authority average, it would receive an extra £30 million a year to spend on local services, such as care for the elderly and schools. 

Leader of the Council, Cllr Brian Leverett, said: "We all contribute to the Government's funds through general taxation, so every authority deserves sufficient funds to offer basic services, without the need to levy a Council Tax above the rate of inflation year after year. The Fair Deal campaign cannot change the level of Council Tax we will need to raise this year, but we hope it will force the Government to address its funding of Poole's services in the years ahead."

Conservative Group Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Ann Stribley, said: "For as many years as we can remember, Poole has received a below average settlement from the Government. As a result, the funding gap between us and other authorities gets wider every year."

Leader of the Council's Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Michael Brooke, said: "Very high house prices distort the figures suggesting Poole is wealthier than it is. With relatively low income levels it becomes harder and harder to meet the demands of the Council Tax system." 

John McBride, Chief Executive of Borough of Poole, said: "The Council is doing its bit to guarantee the money it receives is spent wisely and local services operate efficiently. We now urge residents and businesses across Poole to back our campaign and sign up for a Fair Deal for Poole."

By launching Fair Deal for Poole and winning public support for the campaign, the Council hopes to convince the Government that Poole and its residents deserve a greater share of grant funding.
 
Council leaders hope to take the Fair Deal campaign to Westminster and will invite the Borough's MPs to lobby on residents' behalf.

For further information on the "Fair Deal for Poole" campaign, visit www.boroughofpoole.com/fairdeal.

Ian Turner, Media Relations Officer, Borough of Poole, on tel: 01202 633295