Fight back for funds in South Glos and everywhere
Dan Smart, South Gloucestershire Unison chair
“Prepare for the worst”, the “vanishing council”, a “Doomsday scenario”, local senior council figures have warned. After over a decade of public services being pushed to breaking point, another, even more devastating, round of austerity is well underway.
The Tory asset strippers have left an £18 billion black hole in public finances. Now many councils have budget gaps – £58 million in Liverpool and £85 million in Wakefield.
In South Gloucestershire Council, where I’m a social worker, £23 million in crippling cuts are due to be made. The local authority says redundancies are likely, and it can’t rule out cuts to vital services.
Increasing demand on services, particularly social care, means much more funding is desperately needed. In South Gloucestershire, £8.5 million a year is required. There are also inflationary pressures, increasing running costs at the council by £10-15 million, as well as energy price increases, and more.
The recent pay offer for local government staff is not backed up with any additional funds from central government. South Gloucestershire estimates this will cost it another £6.4 million.
Kwasi Kwarteng has ignited this tinderbox, choosing to subsidise energy company profits, instead of increasing public spending. Nevertheless, local councillors have a responsibility to stand up for staff and communities.
They should firstly use reserves and borrowing powers, which are substantial for some authorities, to set budgets based on residents’ needs. This would give time to build a mass campaign, linking with other local authorities, to demand additional funds from central government. The 65 Labour-controlled councils in England could take this route.
Even one council initially taking this approach, protecting the needs of local people, would gather huge support. It is now a choice between this, or condemning thousands of people they represent to destitution.
As an alternative to the vast majority of Tory, Labour, Lib Dem and Green councillors who have failed, the Socialist Party will stand anti-cuts candidates in the local elections, as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).
