A Government minister has criticised some local authorities for ‘failing to pass sufficient money down to parish councils’.

Latest figures show a total of £31m of council tax support funding will be handed to parishes between now and 2015.

But local government minister Kris Hopkins said he would be writing to 31 councils who he said ‘intend to pass none of this cash to their parishes’.

‘I applaud the can-do councils who are collaborating with parishes by passing down the money due so they can continue to deliver a range of vital services for local people including running leisure centres, maintaining public spaces, parks and play areas and providing support for the elderly,’ he said.

‘The rest of this money should also be passed down and I expect billing authorities and parish and town councils to make sure this happens.’