Funding for public services ‘outdated’ and ‘unfair’, county leaders warn

Millions of rural residents receive almost half of funding for their public services compared to their neighbours in England’s largest cities.

The statistics have led to calls for an end to the ‘postcode lottery’ of government funding and for a new deal for county areas.

Collectively, England’s 37 county areas received £3.2 billion less than the English average this year.

This means that county councils received £650 per person on average for public services in 2017/18. In contrast, a city or metropolitan borough resident receives £825 for their services, whilst those in inner London receive £1,190 per person.

Leaders of England’s largest rural councils will be gathering at the County Councils Network Annual Conference where they will tell government ministers in attendance that they need a new deal for their rural areas and communities otherwise frontline public services will have to be cut.

This is because county authorities face a funding black hole of £2.54 billion by 2021, due to austerity and these funding inequalities between rural and urban areas.

With county leaders having little choice but to raise council tax to make sure the shortfall, they warn that their residents are unfairly subsidising the services enjoyed by other parts of the country.

Paul Carter, chairman of CCN and leader of Kent County Council, is to tell delegates: “Our services are threatened and under pressure like never before. Unless these inequalities are addressed, many of the highly valued services to our public will diminish or disappear.

“For too long now, the 26 million people in England’s shire counties have not received a fair share of national resources.

“This means our Shire heartlands are receiving an eye-watering £3.2 billion less than other parts of the country for services.

“This impacts on the daily lives on our residents, all whilst they unfairly subsidise services enjoyed in other parts of the country through higher council tax bills. This is outdated and chronically unfair.”