"Pamela Hargreaves, the Hartlepool council leader, told the Guardian that her group of 21 councillors, who are in overall control of the 36-member council, were considering quitting Labour this week in protest. We feel betrayed. We feel let down, she said. We've worked really hard to get a Labour government and it had such promise and we expected so much more. You get left feeling how much more faith can we keep?"
"Hargreaves said Hartlepool needed an extra 3m to help fund its ballooning social care bill but that the government had refused. The town has the third-highest number of children in care per capita in England. Steve Reed, the local government secretary, told the Commons last week that ministers were realigning funding so that poorer areas get a fairer share."
"local government leaders have said a significant increase in funding is needed to stop more local authorities from going bankrupt after a huge increases in costs and cuts under the Conservative government. Hartlepool is the sixth most deprived council in England, according to official figures, and is expected to increase council tax by 4.99% the maximum allowed without a local referendum for 2026-27."
Labour faces a mass resignation threat as 21 Hartlepool councillors consider quitting the party over an unfair funding settlement that would prevent the council from balancing its books. Council leader Pamela Hargreaves said the group feels betrayed and let down after working to secure a Labour government. Hartlepool needs an extra 3m to meet a ballooning social care bill and has the third-highest number of children in care per capita. Ministers say they are realigning funding to give poorer areas a fairer share, but local leaders warn many councils risk bankruptcy without significant increases. Hartlepool is among England’s most deprived councils and plans a 4.99% council tax rise for 2026-27.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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