SPENDING REVIEW IS 'WORST COUNCIL SETTLEMENT FOR A DECADE'
Local authorities say Chancellor Alistair Darling's announcement of an
extra 2.6 billion pounds in central government grants to English local
authorities over the next three years represents the worst settlement
councils have received in the last ten years. The Comprehensive Spending
Review foreshadowed a rise in the central grant to almost 26 billion pounds
in 2010-11 - a real terms increase of one per cent a year.
The Chancellor said the increase should mean that local authorities could
keep council tax rises substantially below 5 per cent but the Local
Government Association Chairman, Sir Simon Milton, said the settlement left
a black hole in funding.
"Councils will continue to work hard for the people they serve but they
face tough choices. The Chancellor's announcement will mean above-inflation
rises in bills for council taxpayers and businesses, and there remains a
black hole in funding for the care of the elderly," Sir Simon said.
Southampton City Council remains under Conservative control after last night& 39;s local election results, with strong Conservative wins in both Ba
The 2011 local elections in the part of the Romsey and Southampton North Constituency that is covered by Test Valley Borough Council were a success
After an exceptionally long day, at 3:45am we found out we had won with a majority of more than 4000 votes! This represents a swing of some 4.5% fr
Election day started bright and early in Romsey with a team of Conservative Future members from across Hampshire helping Caroline Nokes with the da
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A team of 30 people from across the South East descended on Romsey and Southampton North to get some final delivery done and show their support for
Today we were joined by a great team of Conservative Future members, who were supporting Caroline in Romsey, Swaythling and Bassett. Conserva