Scott Benton MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement that Blackpool Council will see its budget boosted by 4.6% per cent next year, as part of the Conservatives’ commitment to level up local services across the country and give them the resources they need to support their communities as we recover from the pandemic.
Local authorities in England, including Blackpool Council, will receive a share of £51.2 billion local government funding next year – up £2.2 billion on this year. Funding for key public services will again be protected, with significant extra resources dedicated to areas where they are needed most. Thanks to the investment being made by the Conservatives, Blackpool Council will have an extra 6.5 million to spend next year.
The local government finance settlement sets out how much councils have to spend on vital local services each year, including social care which will see a £1 billion increase in funding next year as a result of the announcement. In total, local authorities across England will receive an extra £5 billion in support next year, including a further £1.55 billion in additional grant funding to cover costs relating to the pandemic and an extra £670 million to help families facing hardship with their council tax bills.
This is on top of the more than £7.2 billion in additional funding given to local areas throughout the pandemic so far to protect vital services that have kept vulnerable people and communities safe.
Commenting, Scott Benton MP said:
“I am delighted that Blackpool Council will have an additional £6.5 million in funding this year thanks to the Conservative Government. This is on top of the £129 million that Blackpool has already received this year. This increase will help the council to continue to deliver the services the people of Blackpool rely on and ensure the council have the funding they need to drive forward recovery post Covid-19.
I urge Blackpool Council to ensure value for money from local services and demonstrate restraint with any Council Tax changes."
