Support for Telford and Wrekin Council on fairer funding

Malcolm Pate, Leader of Shropshire Council, has come out in support of Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council.

Councillor Davies has urged local MPs to support their council to get a fairer deal from the Government on funding. He said that Telford and Wrekin Council are £12 million per year short of the average funding for local councils.

Malcolm Pate said:-

“‘I absolutely agree with the Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, and since I became Leader in December 2015 I have, with the support of Shropshire MPs, pressed the Government for a fair deal. In Telford and Wrekin the shortfall is £12 million and, by the same calculation, the shortfall is £35 million per year in Shropshire between us and the average council.

“If the Government were to adjust funding to the average this would more than solve all of our financial difficulties in Shropshire, and take the pressure off services that are not having to be so drastically cut back in other parts of England.

“The gap of £35 million between Shropshire Council and the average shows what an amazingly efficient council we are.  A fair funding re-think is needed to balance the books and maintain the excellent services our communities value.”