Extracts from Commons debate on Local Government Finance (England) - Feb 10
Thursday, 11 February 2021 07:55
Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con)
[V]:...Whether it is Westminster City Council supporting and
enabling community volunteering through Westminster Connects, we
have all come to rely on local services, perhaps much more than
ever before. I and residents in my constituency are grateful for
the support that central Government have provided to local
authorities to aid the response to the pandemic. Westminster
received more than £29 million last year to support its
crucial...Request free trial
(Cities of London and Westminster) (Con) [V]:...Whether
it is Westminster City Council supporting and
enabling community volunteering through Westminster Connects, we
have all come to rely on local services, perhaps much more than
ever before. I and residents in my constituency are grateful for
the support that central Government have provided to local
authorities to aid the response to the pandemic. Westminster
received more than £29 million last year to support its crucial
services, and the City of London just over £1 million. Looking
forward, I understand that Westminster City
Council can expect to receive almost £10 million in
further covid-19 emergency funding in the coming year, and the City
of London almost £300,000. Sadly, that support remains
necessary.
Colleagues in Westminster City Council tell me
that there has been a 10% reduction in business rate collections
and a 6% reduction in council tax collections in comparison with
the previous financial year. The deficit for 2020-21 is estimated
to be £231 million. I welcome the increase in funding for local
services included within this settlement, particularly the support
it plans to offer authorities to further improve our response to
rough sleeping and homelessness. I care deeply about that issue,
particularly rough sleeping. One way to support local councils in
this area would be to work cross-party and cross-Department to
repeal and replace the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824. I am working
with charities, including Crisis, St Mungo’s and The Passage to
present Ministers with a workable policy for updated legislation to
improve the prospects of those currently living on the
streets...
...Westminster Council’s hugely successful
community contribution scheme, introduced under my leadership,
raised over £1 million in two years. That clearly demonstrates that
people living in higher-valued properties are prepared to
contribute more, and they need to be allowed to do so...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
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