A network of urban councils has launched a manifesto calling on the Government to end competitive bidding and return to a redistributive local government funding model.
SIGOMA, a campaigning network made up of 47 urban local councils, has launched a manifesto ahead of the local elections on Thursday outlining a number of measures it says will make the levelling up agenda a ‘significant success’.
Among the proposals is a call for a return to the full distribution of business rates and an end to competitive bidding for funding pots. The manifesto also says Levelling Up Funding should be targeted at the most deprived councils.
Chair of SIGOMA Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton said: ‘As political parties step up their canvassing ahead of the local elections this week, households on every street are crying out for a Government and local representatives that can provide a promising vision for the future.
‘Today’s announcement lays out a clear manifesto that will help support councils across the country that are on their knees after 13 years of continuous cuts and provide them with the financial support to invest in their local communities and help generate long-term prosperity. This manifesto is truly Levelling Up in action.’
SIGOMA’s manifesto urges the Government to invest £2.6bn in reforming children’s social care and calls for the equalisation of the social care precept in the Social Care Grant.
It also proposes a price cap for agency adult social workers to end bidding contests between councils who are struggling to find social workers.
