Minister to tell PM not to cut council funding
PAUL SCHOLES has been spoken to by police following claims he flouted lockdown rules by staging a house party for his son’s birthday.
The Sun newspaper reported that a seven-hour party was held at the Oldham home of the former Manchester United and England footballer, 45, inset, on Friday night.
That was the he same day widespread Covid-19 restrictions were brought in across Greater Manchester which banned social gatherings in people’s homes and gardens.
THE CABINET Minister responsible for Yorkshire’s councils says he will be lobbying the Prime Minister and Chancellor “very strongly” to protect them against cuts in this autumn’s spending review so they can help play their part in the economic recovery.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick admitted some town halls were “undoubtedly in difficult financial positions” because of the impact of coronavirus on their funding.
And there are fears Chancellor Rishi Sunak could impose further cuts on the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government after warning of “tough choices” ahead as he prepared to deliver his spending review this autumn. Mr Jenrick told The Yorkshire Post that local councils had done an “absolutely heroic job” during the pandemic and added: “I don’t think anyone can fail to recognise the central role that local government plays and has played in recent months”.
The Tory MP for Newark said: “So, I will be taking that message to the Chancellor and Prime Minister very strongly, urging them to ensure that local councils have sustainable finances as we continue to navigate our way through coronavirus, and it isn’t over yet, and can also have the financial ballast to play a crucial role in our economic recovery, which they’re
all in my experience, itching to do.”
In May, reported that a number of local authorities in Yorkshire feared effectively having to declare themselves bankrupt because of
Ensure that local councils have sustainable finances.
The message that Robert Jenrick will be giving to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. the toll the pandemic had taken on their finances.
Council chief executives discussed the prospect of many of the 22 local authorities in the Yorkshire and the Humber region making a choreographed joint declaration that they have run out of money.
Issuing so-called Section 114 notices en masse, following the example of crisis-hit Northamptonshire County Council in 2018, would mean the authorities would have to impose severe spending restrictions.
The Yorkshire Post understands that town hall leaders fear the settlement for local councils at the spending review will be “very tight” due to unforeseen public expenditure relating to the pandemic.
And without the right support, services such as libraries, museums, leisure centres and youth services may see swingeing cuts as councils are forced to prioritise the rising demand from vulnerable residents.
They are also having to cope with the possibility of extra costs from managing local lockdowns, winter flu, winter weather and the consequences of a no-deal exit from the European Union.
Yesterday Mr Jenrick said the Towns Fund deals which will see up to £25m invested in 16 areas of Yorkshire will be signed this autumn and winter. The Government says the funding will help local leaders “transform their town’s economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture”.