20 November 2008Earlier in the month a delegation from Sevenoaks District Council met with a senior Government representative to put forward a case for a fair funding deal for the District.
On Tuesday 8 January 2008, Cllr Peter Fleming, Council Leader and Cllr Brian Ramsay, Cabinet member for finance met with Baroness Andrews, Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, in central London.
A key issue put to Baroness Andrews was the Government's support grant which is declining year-on-year in real terms. This together with additional costs from the Local Development Framework and concessionary fares bus passes combined with the withdrawal of other areas of funding has led to a difficult future financial situation at the Council.
The point was also made that the Government's Grant settlement was based on an average Council Tax charge significantly higher than that of Sevenoaks District Council.
Baroness Andrews was made aware of Sevenoaks District Council's recent achievements, the highest Comprehensive Performance Assessment score in the country, the joint best authority for value for money and improving service performance, and how the Government has shared the Council's good practice with many other local authorities. Baroness Andrews was told that much of the Council's good work could be jeopardised should the current funding arrangements continue.
Cllr Peter Fleming, the Leader of Sevenoaks District Council, says: "Baroness Andrews listened carefully and promised to take notice of our concerns. Our worry is that if we continue to see Government support decline year-on-year, it will reduce the number and quality of our services. Sevenoaks District Council is recognised by Government as being one of the best councils in the country that innovates and leads the way in many areas. If resources dry up our residents will unfortunately pay the price in quality and cost. I hope we will now receive a fair deal for Sevenoaks, but I am not holding my breath."
In the next financial year, from 1 April 2008, Sevenoaks District Council will receive £6.285m from Central Government towards the cost of providing local services which works out as £55.80 per head of population, the lowest in Kent of all the district councils.
The Kent average works out at £78.31 per person and the Kent district authority with the biggest grant will receive £99.15 per person, £43.34 more than Sevenoaks District Council.
Over the past decade, the Government’s financial support for Sevenoaks District Council has declined year-on-year.
Taking Government support and Council Tax together, the two main sources of Council funding, the Government Grant made up 58.41% of the total and Council Tax 41.59% in 2000/1. Seven years later in the current financial year, the Government grant now makes up just 43.85% and Council Tax 56.15% of the total.
The Council's grant increase is 1% in 2008/09 and only 0.5% in the following two years – below any estimates of inflation.
