Yorkshire towns ‘hit by biggest cuts over last decade’

SCARBOROUGH AND Barnsley councils have seen the biggest drop in Government funding in the region over the last decade – with the coastal town spending half what it did in 2010, according to TUC analysis.

While Scarborough is spending £12m-a-year less on key services – equivalent to 49 per cent – since 2010, Barnsley has £86ma-year less – or 40 per cent.

Barnsley was named in a Centre for Cities report earlier this year as the worst hit in the country, along with Liverpool.

The TUC said by targeting cuts on central government grants, ministers had disproportionately impacted councils in some of the more deprived areas of Britain.

Councils in poorer areas are finding it harder to raise income through council tax, their share of business rates and other charges and fees.

Sir Steve Houghton, Labour leader of Barnsley Council, said they were even worse affected than Scarborough, which has services like adult social care and children’s services provided by the county council.

He warned that if the Government does not change direction, the financial collapse of Northamptonshire county council last year, “instead of being the exception will become the rule.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said some councils can no longer provide the legal minimum adding: “Local council-run services hold communities together, but nine years of Westminster-imposed austerity has put paid to that.”

Across England the TUC

estimates £7.8bn a year less is being spent on local services than in 2010 – or £135 per person.

Sir Steve said the council’s nonteaching workforce had shrunk by nearly half to 2,400, while council tax had risen significantly to try and plug gaps, especially around adult social care.

Having risen four per cent last year, it is set to go up again at least two per cent for adult social care “before we think about the rest of the services”.

The town’s youth clubs have shut and there has been a significant drop in the number of childrens centres.

He said: “The first thing (a new Government) has to do is make sure there’s money in the system. The Local Government Association estimate a £3bn gap.

“Secondly we need a fairer way to distribute money because poorer areas are losing out. Councils are relying on business rates and council tax to fund local services – next year it’s up to 75 per cent of business rates being kept by the councils.

“We are not going to raise big funds in Barnsley – the vast majority live in Band A properties and we have a low business base.”

Scarborough Council leader Steve Siddons said local MPs “need to explain why they voted for Scarborough be the biggest loser in the region”.

He said: “Scarborough has always had a ‘double hit’ with its settlement as we get no grant for our tourists. Scarborough people pay for all the tourism services, litter, toilets and much more.

“Since 2010 we have also been hit by a ‘triple whammy’ and had to sort nearly half the funds for sea defences like the Whitby Piers.

“Only the EU has been willing to contribute what was until 2010 a Government bill, leaving local council tax payers to pick up the rest of the tab.”