Bradford Council has warned that it will have to issue a section 114 notice, effectively declaring bankruptcy, unless the Government provides ‘exceptional’ financial support.
The council is currently forecasting budget pressures of £73m in the current financial year and £103.6m in 2024-25.
The local authority cites the impact of austerity measures after 2011, inflation and the increase in demand on services such as children’s social care.
Bradford Council leader Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said: ‘Our finances, like many other across the country, are in a perilous position. We are being forced to look at all the services that we provide and make extremely difficult decisions and we know these will not be popular and will have an impact on our residents.’
Local authority leaders representing urban councils yesterday warned the Prime Minister that the new year could see a ‘surge’ of section 114 notices being issued unless there is a last-minute intervention.
If this article was of interest, then check out, 'Can local government take much more?', 'Preventing future Section 114 notices' and 'How to fix local government finance'.
