Mixed response from town MPs after Worcestershire Council leader asks them to lobby govt for more funding

THERE has been a mixed response from MPs to a letter sent to them by the Worcestershire County Council leader, asking them to help him lobby the government to fund public services.

In his letter, Coun Matthew Jenkins asked Bromgrove MP Bradley Thomas, Droitwich and Evesham MP Nigel Huddleston, Redditch MP Chris Bloore, West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin, Worcester MP Tom Collins and Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier to help achieve more funding for care of children and adults.

Earlier this year the Government was forced to provide £59.9million Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) to bridge the gap between the council’s income and the cash the council legally has to spend on essential services, including caring for the elderly and providing homes for looked after children.

The Green And Independent Alliance (GAIA) is calling on all of the county’s MPs to help pressure the government to secure a proper settlement in the budget to protect local services.

Coun Jenkins said: “We are urging you to lobby government to adopt an immediate commitment to provide councils with sufficient funding to cover the costs of statutory responsibilities relating to the care of children and adults.

“Let’s be clear, last year’s bail out was not giving us any additional money.

---

---

“The Government merely told us to borrow more money to balance the books. This is not sustainable.

“The increased debt now means we have even more costs as we now have to pay interest on the increasing debt.”

“The Government is asking councils to take on more responsibilities but they are not providing the money to fund those services.

“In a cost of living crisis, the services we provide are more essential than ever, especially to the most vulnerable people in society.”

Mr Huddleston said: “As a point of principle, the Conservative Party does not announce policies without explaining where the money is coming from.

“It would be irresponsible to push virtue-signalling statements that just look at one side of the equation.

“That is why we are developing robust policies which are fully funded, having identified significant savings – including in the ballooning welfare budget which the Government fails to address.

“I would encourage the Green Party to do the same.”

Mr Bloore said: “Residents are frustrated, and I understand why.

“14 years of Conservative Government and 20 years of Conservative control of Worcestershire have left services cut to the bone, with an overly heavy senior management structure and some services close to collapse.

“There was also a failure, to be honest, with residents about just how serious the council’s financial situation had become.

“A year of chaotic Reform control and a council tax rise have only added to the frustration.

“I have supported, for the second year running, the exceptional financial support from the Labour Government, including much-needed extra funding for roads and failing services such as SEND.

“I am willing to work constructively with the Government and the council administration to secure the best possible settlement for Worcestershire.

“I won’t walk away from my responsibilities to local residents.

“But we also need to be honest about how we got here, learn from past mistakes and protect the services residents rely on.

Mr Thomas said: “In an unusual move the letter to MPs from Coun Jenkins was received via email from the Press Officer of the Greens and Independent Alliance, rather than appearing to be an official piece of correspondence sent via Worcestershire County Council.

“I won’t engage in playing the blame game in the way this administration clearly is.

“I will work with the county council in the best interests of my constituents, just as I have done ever since I was first elected.

“I hope, in contrast to the Reform administration’s nine per cent increase this year, they will resist an inflation-busting council tax increase when setting their budget for 2027/28.”