Nottingham City Council deputy says Government settlement marks ‘reversal of political underfunding’

The deputy leader of Nottingham City Council, Cllr Ethan Radford, has welcomed a revamped three-year funding injection from the Labour Government, describing it as a “reversal of a policy of deliberate political underfunding.” The council is set to receive a 40 percent increase, equating to an extra £154.5 million, over the remainder of the current parliament. This funding is intended to support services like libraries, youth services, and community hubs in areas that have been historically underserved.

Cllr Radford emphasized that this increase isn’t simply to address existing budget gaps, which the council had already managed to close. He highlighted the significant cuts Nottingham has faced over the past 14 years, referencing comments made by Rishi Sunak about redirecting funds from cities like Nottingham to more affluent areas. The Labour Party asserts that funding is now being allocated based on need rather than political considerations.

Despite the positive outlook, Cllr Radford cautioned that increased funding alone won’t resolve the growing demands and costs within adult social care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services. He stressed the need for a “fundamental” change to address the root causes of rising demand in these areas, warning that simply throwing money at the problem is not a sustainable solution.

(Source：Nottinghampost)