June 26, 2017 4.51 pm This story is over 81 months old

‘We’re fighting for a fairer funding deal’, says Lincolnshire County Council leader who admits cuts will continue

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill has admitted that further cuts will have to be made while the authority campaigns for a fairer funding deal. In a live interview with Lincolnshire Reporter, Councillor Hill said that it was understandable that some residents were unhappy about having to pay more in council tax at a time…
Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill has admitted that further cuts will have to be made while the authority campaigns for a fairer funding deal.

In a live interview with Lincolnshire Reporter, Councillor Hill said that it was understandable that some residents were unhappy about having to pay more in council tax at a time when services were being reduced.

He said: “Lincolnshire County Council is the second lowest funded county council in the country.

“What we would say is if you took a little bit from some of those well-funded councils, particularly in London and outer London, we would not have to find the savings.

“For example, if we got the same as Greater Manchester in terms of government support through various formats, we would be £160 million better off and wouldn’t have to find any savings at all.

“We’re not suggesting we’re going to get to that stage immediately, but I think the time has now come where we actually look at the funding formula so it’s made fairer and we are not disadvantaged in rural areas.”

Watch the live chat in full:

Five things we learned from Martin Hill

  1. A coastal highway from Lincoln to Skegness and a further rollout of broadband in rural parts of Lincolnshire are key priorities for the council moving forward.
  2. He argued that MPs should be vigorously campaigning to get a fairer funding deal for Lincolnshire County Council.
  3. Grantham A&E fully reopening as a 24 hour service is a red line for him in regards to the Lincolnshire Sustainability and Transformation Plan.
  4. The new chairperson of the Health Scrutiny Committee is Councillor Carl Macey, replacing Councillor Christine Talbot who wanted to stay in the post.
  5. He said the last thing the country needs is another general election, and that the government should get on with the Brexit process.