South Dorset MP Richard Drax warns councils in Dorset could 'go broke' (From Thisisdorset)
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South Dorset MP Richard Drax warns councils in Dorset could 'go broke'
7:14pm Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News By Rachael Burnett
South Dorset MP Richard Drax warns councils in Dorset could 'go broke'
SOUTH Dorset MP Richard Drax is calling for fairer funding for Dorset councils ‘before they go broke’.
Mr Drax said he supports local councils in their fight for fairer local government funding and is campaigning for a fairer share for Dorset and south Dorset.
He has spoken out after a debate in parliament on rural funding settlement yesterday.
He said: “Weymouth and Portland will be pushed into negative trading within two years and be broke within five and that’s not an empty threat.
“Already, west Somerset and five or six other councils have gone bust.
“Far from being rich, greedy revenue collectors, stashing our money away in reserves, our councillors are fighting an uphill battle to stay solvent and to pay for all the services we need.
“They particularly object, and I agree with them, to being accused of being immoral by the minister for wanting to raise council tax when they have no other option.”
Mr Drax said that this year the average amount awarded per head in town and cities in England is more than double that in rural areas such as Purbeck and West Dorset.
He said: “Urban councils receive 50 per cent more in government grants per head than rural councils.
“On top of that, cuts to Dorset over the last three years have amounted to 38.6 per cent.
“That is a huge reduction and worse, the government proposes that this formula should form the basis of future settlements for six more years, which would perpetuate the shortfall.
“You can see how serious the situation is.”
Mr Drax said residents in rural areas are also faced with higher council tax bills than in urban ones.
He added: “In rural Purbeck council tax is £594 and in West Dorset it’s £583.
“Compare that with the average £398 paid in urban areas.
“How can that be right when providing services in rural areas is more expensive.
“In the current year's settlement the amount included nationally for all rural shire districts in terms of increased allowances amounts to £40.1 million or 9.3 per cent.
“After damping this reduces to £17.3 million or 3.8 per cent Dorset’s share is woefully inadequate.”
Mr Drax said that while this year the average amount awarded per head in towns and cities in England is £487, in Purbeck which is 84 per cent rural it is £215 and in West Dorset, 94 per cent rural, it is £230.
In contrast Dorset residents pay a higher average council tax than urban dwellers, he says.
Mr Drax was due to speak in a debate on local government funding in rural communities yesterday but was unable to due to time restrictions at the event.
Comments(15)
rjimmer
says...
8:19pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Dave Aitch
says...
8:34pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Chav_Scum
says...
8:34pm Tue 12 Feb 13
& today's award for most ambiguous excuse goes to Mr Drax's spokesperson: "Mr Drax was due to speak in a debate on local government funding in rural communities yesterday but was unable to due to time restrictions at the event."
So, either:
Couldn't be arsed- had some important champagne quaffing to attend to.
Couldn't be trusted- does not have a clue what he's on about, only fit to give the old 'save the helicopter' speech (psst, it's too late!) every now and again.
Chav_Scum
says...
8:58pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Dave Aitch wrote:I dunno, the big money is in knowing where to invest your family wealth, of which Drax & his Eton chums have plenty of course.
Minimum wage, no expenses, no subsidised food & alcohol, no second homes for all of them. See how long they want to be in office then.
Amazing how these private health care companies, security firms & 'workfare' agencies crop up to secure fat contracts from the Government, just as it's being announced parts of the NHS, Probation & DWP are being outsourced.
Uncanny that our MPs, ex-MPs, Lords - the usual greedy suspects with trust fund kids, moat cleaning & rent boys to fund - are often financially linked to these ventures? If I were the cynical type I'd think it's almost as if they knew!
& **** that Richard Branson for embarrassing the contract decision makers. I'm sure it was just a big misunderstanding & there are never any envelopes of any colour involved in the decision making processes.
Get a grip
says...
9:13pm Tue 12 Feb 13
whatever66
says...
9:53pm Tue 12 Feb 13
cj07589
says...
10:20pm Tue 12 Feb 13
I sincerely doubt it, sceptical from experience..........
.and gravy train rolls on......
woodsedge
says...
10:34pm Tue 12 Feb 13
cj07589 wrote:Here is the answer cj07589
Nevermined that's what's the bottomless pit of tax payers money is there for. No wonder the country is bankrupt- endless public servant incompetence and will anybody be made accountable for the bad fiscal decisions that we no doubt will pay more taxes for.
I sincerely doubt it, sceptical from experience..........
.and gravy train rolls on......
http://www.cheapflig
hts.co.uk/China/
PHonnor
says...
9:23am Wed 13 Feb 13
cj07589
says...
11:02am Wed 13 Feb 13
woodsedge wrote:Woodsedge ure a muppet.
cj07589 wrote:Here is the answer cj07589
Nevermined that's what's the bottomless pit of tax payers money is there for. No wonder the country is bankrupt- endless public servant incompetence and will anybody be made accountable for the bad fiscal decisions that we no doubt will pay more taxes for.
I sincerely doubt it, sceptical from experience..........
.and gravy train rolls on......
http://www.cheapflig
hts.co.uk/China/
kildare43
says...
1:10pm Wed 13 Feb 13
osmington4
says...
7:53pm Wed 13 Feb 13
timwel
says...
10:30am Sun 17 Feb 13
Its the 'handout' system run by central Government. He is in a position to influence this purely political decision at the centre.
timwel
says...
10:30am Sun 17 Feb 13
Its the 'handout' system run by central Government. He is in a position to influence this purely political decision at the centre.
Hateignorance says...
8:12pm Tue 12 Feb 13