Councillors have urged the Government to re-think last minute changes to a major overhaul of local government funding
Political leaders on Hull City Council have urged a rethink of tweaks to the Fair Funding 2.0 methodology.(Image: Getty)
The leaders of the political groups on Hull City Council have written to the Prime Minister to raise their concerns around funding for the authority.
They have requested an urgent meeting about the amount of funding allocated to the council, which has led to substantial reductions in the money available to the city against those expected. Council leader, Liberal Democrat Mike Ross, Labour’s councillor Daren Hale and Reform’s councillor Richard Kelly have urged Andy Burnham and other senior Cabinet ministers to meet with them to talk over the imminent Local Government Financial Settlement update for 2027/28, ahead of the upcoming budget.
In their letter, they point to last minute changes to the Fair Funding 2.0 methodology that mean Hull saw a £10m reduction in funding compared to original indications. The councillors point out that Hull was previously designated the 4th most deprived authority in England – with FF2.0 intended to ensure authorities like Hull could see improvement in financial sustainability.
But changes this summer mean funding distributions can move away from the most deprived authorities in the north towards London-based authorities. This has led to Hull moving from 4th most deprived to 6th, and a corresponding reduction in the potential funding allocation.
They also point to an “alarming” 15.1% reduction in Hull’s funding allocation weightings for Adult Social Care. This is especially worrying, they say, given Hull is responsible for the care costs of more than 89% of its residents due to their comparatively low incomes.
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “People in Hull deserve a fair deal from the Government, and the council is determined to make sure our city gets the funding it needs. For too long, Hull has been underfunded while other parts of the country have received more support.
“The Government promised a new system that would give more money to areas with the greatest need. Under the original plans, Hull would have been one of the biggest winners.
“But changes made at the last minute mean our city is now set to miss out and we are seeing the effect of that. This simply isn’t fair.
“Since 2010, Hull City Council has made over £170m in savings. The council has always worked hard to protect vital services and get the basics right, but rising demand for adult and children’s social care is putting huge pressure on our finances.
“We’ve asked the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for an urgent meeting. We need the Government to understand the challenges facing Hull and deliver the fair funding our city was promised.
“I will keep fighting to make sure Hull gets its fair share and to protect basic services for local people but we need more support from the Government.”
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