Council leaders in spat about government help
A RARE public spat has erupted among Greater Manchester’s council leaders over the state of the region’s town hall finances.
Bolton’s Tory leader David Greenhalgh accused his Labour colleagues of staging ‘political theatre’ at a special one-off combined authority meeting held to discuss cash shortfalls, suggesting Labour chiefs already knew ministers were planning further support.
However, Trafford’s Labour leader Andrew Western denied the meeting amounted to ‘political theatre’ and said his authority was facing ‘terrifying’ financial choices that could see them unable to provide basic legal services.
The one-off emergency discussion, held by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and 10 leaders who comprise the combined authority, took place specifically to discuss the post-Covid financial shortfall facing local authorities and, to a lesser extent, the region’s transport network.
A paper containing the latest forecasts stated that once government’s bail-outs to date had been taken into account, the region still has a £368m shortfall – in particular due to lost income. In several cases, including Manchester and Trafford, councils are warning of bankruptcy as a result, through a legal mechanism known as a ‘Section 114 notice’. Coun Greenhalgh said: “We’re presenting very much an image of a government that’s not listening today and I think government is listening. You may disagree with me, you may disagree how hard they’re listening. But they are listening.”
Coun Western said: “I’m not here as an act of political theatre today. I’m here because I have no idea how my council is going to deliver for its residents moving forward, even at a basic level.”
The combined authority voted unanimously for the motion calling for government to fully reimburse councils for the pandemic response.