STOCKPORT SHORT-CHANGED AGAIN, SAY LIB DEMS

11.07.00am GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

Stockport is being short-changed by up to £3.5m by central government over the next two years according to shock new figures revealed to the borough's two Liberal Democrat MPs, Andrew Stunell and Mark Hunter.

Official figures show that Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council is receiving £1.752m LESS in the current allocations for 2009/10 and will receive £1.722m LESS in 2010/11 than recommended by the government's own funding formula. This would be equivalent to a 1.3% rise in Council Tax (£18 on the average Band D property), or as much as the entire Adults Social Care Budget.

Yet, further inspection of the figures reveals that on the whole, London Borough's are receiving considerably MORE than they are entitled to:

• Affluent Kensington & Chelsea will receive £10m MORE in 2010/11,

• Hammersmith & Fulham will receive over £26m MORE

• Wandsworth will receive over £50m MORE.

• Even some councils in the North are receiving more than their fair share, with Knowsley, and Trafford getting MORE, whilst Stockport and several of its other Greater Manchester neighbours get short-changed.

Last Month Mark Hunter challenged the Communities Secretary John Denham in the House of Commons, condemning the revelations as "a monumental fiddle by the Treasury", and describing the Minister's defence of the decision as "mealy mouthed".

Commenting, Mark Hunter said:

"I am outraged at the Government's lack of consideration for our area. Stockport is constantly being short-changed by this Government, and local council tax payers are paying the price.

"We all realise that times are tough, and accept that cuts may have to fall in some areas, but in this case, the money is clearly there. The government now plan to overpay some councils, and undercut others.

"After 13 years of being in Government it's about time Labour stopped cooking the books and started putting them in order instead."

Andrew Stunell added:

"Once again Stockport has been let down by a government in London that simply doesn't care.

"What is the point of having a funding formula if you're not going to follow it? Yes, money is tight in the current climate, but we are simply asking for Stockport to get its fair share.

"It is a fiddle, plain and simple, and we say they should put the books straight, and pay up the money they themselves admit Stockport should be getting."

ENDS