Austin Macauley 04 March 2016

Transition fund carve up leaves Wolverhampton feeling ‘robbed’

Analysis by the BBC has found stark differences in the levels of transition funds being provided to councils across the country.

Richmond-Upon-Thames will receive around £30 a head and is closely followed by Wokingham and Surrey – compared with an average of £5.57 across the country.

Many other local authority areas will not receive any help from the £300m of transitional funding provided by the Government to cushion the blow of long-term cuts, including Wolverhampton.

Its finance spokesman, Cllr Andrew Johnson, told the BBC: ‘Wolverhampton feels robbed not to have received a share of the transition grant.

‘We often compare ourselves to Wokingham which is much wealthier and has been much better treated throughout the austerity cuts.

‘We are the 17th most deprived local authority in the country and Wokingham is 133rd. How can it be fair that people in Wokingham are given the equivalent of nearly £27 each of this money but people in Wolverhampton not a penny?’

Councils that raise more of their own revenue via business rates and council tax have seen the biggest cuts to their revenue support grant, reported the BBC, and the transition funds have been allocated to take account of that.

Richmond’s leader Lord True told the BBC: ‘These figures must be seen in context. We were going to lose just over 48% of our grant overnight. We are still going to end up in the same place with the same loss of money, just on a different trajectory.

‘It is not a question of what we are going to spend the money on. We still have the same decisions to take, we are still looking at eight-figure cuts, but we can move from A to B in a less brutal way for the public.’

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: ‘This long-term funding settlement for councils is fair, and ensures those facing the highest demand for services continue to receive more funding.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Digital Support Analyst (Field Engineer) - ACL

Essex County Council
£30685.00 - £36099.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Digital Support Analyst (Field Engineer) - Adult Community LearningPermanent, Full Time£30,685 to £36,099 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

HGV & Municipal Vehicle Technician

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 5 (scp 16-19) £30,518 to £32,061 per annum
This post assists the Senior HGV and Municipal Vehicle Technician in ensuring that the Council’s vehicle fleet is maintained to a high standard. Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Data Performance Analyst

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
£39,526 - £43,613 per annum
We have an exciting opportunity for a Data Performance Analyst to join us! Maidenhead, Berkshire
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Building Control Surveyor

North Yorkshire Council
Circa up to £46k* + 10% Recruitment Payment
Shape Safer, Smarter Buildings Across North Yorkshire Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Building Control Surveyor

North Yorkshire Council
Circa up to £46k* + 10% Recruitment Payment
Shape Safer, Smarter Buildings Across North Yorkshire Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner