Cherwell District Labour Councillor and Deputy Opposition Leader Shaida Hussain has written a heartfelt open letter to Victoria Prentis MP regarding local authority funding, as the government continues to fail to fully honour the commitments they gave regarding funding support at the start of the coronavirus crisis. Ms Prentis has previously said she was ‘confident’ that councils would get the funding they need to continue to supply key services, but that confidence has not translated into engagement with the issue by Ms Prentis, the responsible Secretary of State Robert Jenrick, or the Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

1^st August 2020

Dear Mrs Prentis,

I hope the this letter finds you and your family well in these unprecedented times. I am writing to you in my position as deputy opposition leader at Cherwell District Council. I am deeply concerned about the level of government funding for local authorities and the consequences this will have on our communities, in particularly for the most vulnerable.

The COVID-19 crisis has been the most challenging time this country has faced since the Second World War, the fact that some semblance of normality has continued is due to the efforts and diligence of local authorities all over the country co-ordinating and facilitating support whether it has been providing accommodation for the homeless to providing support for local community groups to enable them to operate, as well as advising and supporting businesses. It is not unreasonable to expect the government to fund this extra yet crucial work councils have had to undertake. The Secretary of State promised councils would have all the resources they needed, this promise has been broken.

Now we learn that the government is considering closing discretionary grant funds and grants for small businesses and retail on the 28^th August. This will not save business should the second expected COVID wave hit the country in the autumn, it will leave many pubs, restaurants and social spaces without a fallback. I have full confidence in the officers at Cherwell to do the best they can, but yet again the council will have no financial support from the government like they should.

I have no doubt we all want a positive outcome post COVID, nevertheless, without increased financial support for local authorities, this will undoubtedly lead to reduced services which will not improve the quality of life for the majority of the people in our district. The case for increased local funding stretches throughout England, northern authorities have been very vocal about the lack of funding putting them at the risk of bankruptcy, locally, we have seen Northamptonshire County Council issue a section 114 notice in 2018, just two years ago and without the added pressure of COVID.

Cherwell is a super growth district, why must it be punished for it success? Why must northern towns be punished for their perceived lack of success? Surely, we need an overhaul of how local authorities are funded. How are local authorities to recover whilst being hampered by a debilitating government funding structure? Local authorities must not be punished for central government failings.

For recovery to happen we need growth, for growth we need funding. Looking back to the end of the Second World War, the government then took the initiative and a positive outlook to support and improve services. It would be a lost opportunity and an absolute betrayal for our future generations if we do not do the same. I urge you to support our local council by pushing Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick to give local councils the funding they were promised and look into improving local government funding structure with urgency. It’s fundamental councils have the resources they need, our communities depend on it and so does our democracy.

With kind regards,

Shaida Hussain, Deputy Opposition Leader, Cherwell District Council.