Four London councils challenge government funding reforms


The changes, known as the Fair Funding Review 2.0, aim to shift more cash towards areas with higher deprivation.

Wandsworth’s Conservative administration said the reforms would cut funding by 40% and force it to slash services and raise council tax.

The authority is proposing to raise council tax by 94% from April, in addition to making sweeping cuts – including shutting its cost-of-living reserve with £6.2m of unspent funds, replacing Labour’s Access for All with a much smaller concessionary scheme, cancelling its Borough of Sanctuary status and suspending voluntary sector grants for four years.

Kensington and Chelsea is set to lose £108m, or more than 40% of its central funding over the next four years under the reforms, while Westminster is due to see these resources drop by around £100m (46%). Richmond is set to be stripped of £26m (58%) of its core funding.

The councils have now formally submitted their revised funding proposals, under the Sustainable Communities Act, asking the government to reconsider its decision.

Wandsworth Council leader Robert Morritt, who heads a Conservative minority administration, said: “Residents should not have to pick up the bill for changes imposed by Whitehall. This proposal takes our case directly to government.

“We are using every route available to fight for a fairer deal and protect Wandsworth taxpayers.”



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