Hartlepool will receive £9 million in extra funding next year as part of the Conservative Government’s £64.7 billion Local Government Final Settlement following Jill Mortimers successful lobbying of the Government.
Jill Mortimer has welcomed the announcement that the Local Government Finance Settlement will see Hartlepool Borough Council’s core spending power boosted by £9 million next year to reach £120.3 million.
This is an 8.1% rise, the joint 10th highest increase in the country, and double the rate of inflation.
The Local Government Finance Settlement has increased the Core Spending Power of the council through increases to grant funding from the Conservative Government.
Jill has secured increases to grants including the Settlement Funding Assessment, Improved Better Care Fund, Social Care Grant and New Homes Bonus, which in turn have increased the Core Spending Power of the Council.
This increase in funding will enable Hartlepool Borough Council to provide vital services for residents. Residents will also remain protected from excessive council tax increases thanks to Conservative reforms to council tax, ensuring councils cannot impose sudden and unexpected rises in council tax on local people without a referendum.
Increased funding means the Council Tax Requirement has been reduced, only needing a minimal rise to make up the remainder.
Council tax will rise by 2.99%, with 0.99% of that going towards core spending. This is the lowest amount across Teesside, with Middlesbrough Council, Redcar Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Darlington Council, who are all Labour led, raising their core spending council tax by more.
The £9 million increase to core spending power will be felt by residents across Hartlepool, who will feel the impact in their pockets, and the quality of care they are receiving.
Speaking after the announcement, Jill Mortimer MP said:
“Local authorities play a vital role in our communities, providing crucial local services that people rely on, but we know the effect of Covid and the war in Ukraine have increased cost pressures.
“It is great news that Hartlepool will have an additional £9 million funding this year. These additional funds will help our local leaders take long-term decisions to deliver a brighter future for their areas, including protecting local taxpayers from sudden and unexpected rises in council tax.
“This builds on the significant funding boost the council received last year, showing the Conservative Government’s plan to ensure local authorities have the resources they need is working. Meanwhile, Labour continue to have no plan and would just take us back to square one with their £28 billion unfunded spending spree.”
Commenting, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, said:
“Today, I set out the final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25. This makes available up to £64.7 billion for local authorities in England, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5
billion, or 7.5 per cent in cash terms, on 2023-24.
“This settlement, and the changes we have made to address concerns raised through the consultation, will provide local authorities with the tools to support their local communities, continue to reform their services for the long-term, and to help communities prepare for the future.”