Local Government Settlement

South Thanet MP, Stephen Ladyman, welcomes local funding boost.News that all our local councils have received a funding boost has been welcomed by local MP, Stephen Ladyman. The Local Government Settlement for 2010-11 announced today includes above inflation increases for Kent, Thanet and Dover Councils.Stephen Ladyman, MP for South Thanet, said:"Kent has a 3.2% increase, Thanet 1.1%, Dover 0.5%, Kent Police 2.7% and Kent Fire 1.9% all after a year when inflation is at -0.8%. That means every local council, the police and the fire service have received inflation busting rises and none of them have any excuse to put Council Tax up this year.""Of course, every year the Councils in my constituency have received record settlements from the Labour Government but every year the local Tory Councils have still put the Council Tax up and cut services. Let's hope this year at last they will see sense."John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities said:"The Labour Government is providing stability and long term investment in Local Government. This settlement means that local government has now had 13 years of above inflation increases in funding."This settlement of 4%, coupled with the anticipated efficiency savings that councils have identified should mean that local authorities are able to protect and improve front line services while keeping council tax rises to their lowest levels for 16 years."Labour councils in London are leading the way with all eight having already announced that they will be freezing council tax while protecting their services"