Bradford Council has increased its request for financial assistance from the Government by £22m as it struggles to avoid being forced to declare effective bankruptcy.
The local authority is now asking for a total of £80m in this financial year and £140m for 2024/25.
Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe told the BBC the recently announced extra support would likely only amount to £5m for Bradford for one year only.
‘This is far lower than councils require to fund the rising levels of social need,’ she said.
‘Exceptional Financial Support is, therefore, the only route open to councils and that’s what we are negotiating now with Government.’
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove last week announced a £500m boost to social care budgets.
Havering Council last week described the funding increase as ‘minuscule’.
Somerset Council leader Bill Revans also warned the £5m the council will receive from the settlement ‘will not help us overcome a projected budget shortfall of £100m for next year.’
If this article was of interest, then check out our feature, 'Preventing future Section 114 notices' and 'How to fix local government finance'.
