Local Government Funding Announcement Confirms Brutal Cuts for Bedford Borough

Commenting on this week's Local Government Finance Settlement, which confirmed the severe ongoing Government cuts for local services, Mayor Dave Hodgson said that contrary to the Prime Minister's claims, 'austerity is most definitely not over for local services.'

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Today's announcement confirms the brutal cut in funding for local services, with our main government grant falling from £30m in 2015 to under £6m next year.'

"The need for services, especially care for the elderly and vulnerable, is increasing and our funding is reducing.'

"Meanwhile, you only have to look at the financial collapse and sweeping emergency cuts at one of our neighbouring councils for an example of what we've averted through our rigorous financial management and commitment to saving services. The funding crisis for councils gets deeper and deeper, however. Today's announcement is further confirmation that despite what the Prime Minister has claimed, austerity is most definitely not over for local services."

Mayor Dave appeared on both the BBC's 6pm and 10pm national news programmes following the funding announcement for all councils, and you can watch it on his Facebook page here.