Blackpool 'weathering the financial storm' in face of government cuts

Blackpool is defying government cuts by being “bold and ambitious” in its spending plans, council leader Simon Blackburn said as councillors agreed the budget for 2020/21.
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He told the annual budget meeting: “The council is prudent, it is efficient, it is delivering new businesses, new jobs, new homes and revitalising the local economy to a degree unseen in most parts of the UK.

“We have weathered the financial storm brought about by this government and have emerged stronger, leaner and fitter.”

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The last financial year has seen the council add to its assets by buying the Houndshill shopping centre, provide new homes through the Blackpool Housing Company which it owns, and continue to invest in its bus and tram company Blackpool Transport.

Town hall bills are going up againTown hall bills are going up again
Town hall bills are going up again

Coun Blackburn added this was despite recurring government cuts since 2011 now adding up to £166m, the equivalent of £996m compounded.

The council’s ruling Labour group voted through a budget of £142m to fund services in 2020/21 ,plus £92.5m of spending on capital projects.

Council tax will increase by 3.99 per cent meaning an average band D bill will be £1,900 including charges for police and fire services, which is an increase of £73 compared to this year.

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Coun Blackburn said while core spending powers were the same as five years ago, this was down to council tax going up by 19 per cent since 2015 to make up for a drop in government funding.

Coun Simon BlackburnCoun Simon Blackburn
Coun Simon Blackburn

He added £20m of savings had been made this year without closing any libraries, leisure centres or parks, earmarked reserves would remain healthy at £34m by the end of the financial year, while it was proposed to add £3m to working balances towards an overall target of £6m.

This has enabled investment of an additional £14m in children’s services, although 75 jobs are being axed across the council.

But Conservative group leader Coun Tony Williams said it was a “tax, spend, borrow and hope budget and a clear indication of a council in crisis.”

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He cited delays in projects such as the tramway extension and the new conference centre as potentially tripping the council up financially.

Coun Williams said: “It is no secret this council is adept at missing deadlines and targets. Deadlines that have a costly effect when they are not met.”

He said the Conservative government had given Blackpool “far more than it ever received from a Labour government” including in recent times £4.4m for roads and potentially £25m from the Towns Fund.

Independent councillors also refused to support the budget, with Coun Maxine Callow warning government cuts needed to end.

She said: “I would like to invite some of these ministers and the Prime Minister to Blackpool to see how people live.”