The council leader says 'Putting up council tax is really difficult, I know that, but we have no choice'
The leader, Peter Marland claims local MPs and Tory councillors are in denial about the financial challenges MK Council faces.
Peter told MKFM ''This year we are having to cut £14m from our budget, taking total cuts since 2010 to £144m. And we’ll need to find £40m more in cuts over the next three budgets. While any extra funding is welcome, £600k one off funding won’t fix the problems the cuts have created, or the challenges we face. Local authorities face a £5bn funding gap by 2021, and £2.5bn for social care alone.''
He continued to say ''I’m pleased a Labour-run MK Council has kept weekly bin collections, Tory run Central Beds is looking to go to three weekly collections. We’ve kept open every library and children’s centre, while Tory-run Northamptonshire is going bust and closing theirs. I’m proud we have invested in our children’s services, when Tory run Buckinghamshire County Council’s have been inadequate since 2014, putting vulnerable children at risk. Make no mistake, unless a sustainable way to fund local services is found, the Central Government cuts mean its likely every local council will go bust over the next 3 years, its just the badly-run Tory ones near us seem to be first. Rather than lecturing me on how to run a council and promoting short term fixes, our MPs should be working to support local services, but their record is one of cuts, cuts, cuts.”
Peter spoke to MKFM following a press release for our MPs
