A message from the Leader of Bromley Council
Dear Member,
We recommend that you read Councillor Smith’s letter (below) as it warns of potential Government action which would be bad news for our Borough. It is suggested that you might like to call on Gareth Bacon MP to protest on our behalf.
A message from the Leader of the Council
I very much hope this newsletter finds you in fine health having enjoyed a good Summer thus far.
There are some really good, happy news items contained within both this and the recent edition of ‘Our Bromley’ magazine which recently hit your doormats (or if not very shortly will!) which I very much hope that you enjoy and approve of.
I am particularly proud of the Council’s works around our Libraries, Leisure Centres and above all else, the Churchill Theatre in recent months and very much hope that you agree.
I do need to flag up one vitally important live issue at this time which is not so cheerful though and indeed to ask for your consideration of assistance and support on.
It transpires that the Government’s so called ‘Fairer' Funding review, is sadly turning out to be anything but.
Regular news followers will be aware that I have been relentlessly highlighting Bromley’s unfair treatment at the hands of Central Governments past and present, going back to the turn of the millennium, for more years than I care to remember.
Sadly, rather than move in the direction we have been asking and hoping for (reducing the £80m shortfall we are suffering set against the average grant funding for London Boroughs) the Government’s indicative ‘solution’ is to move a significant amount of funding away from London - and redistribute the funding to towns and cities in other parts of the UK. This is predicated on an arcane formula, based on an abstract belief that all Council Tax payers at Band D level should be paying £1998 per year, whereas in Bromley we only currently charge £1552 for Bromley’s services.
This self-evidently works against our Borough which is well organised and cost-conscious and rewards some less thrifty Councils elsewhere at our expense. The financial implications for Bromley taxpayers are both obvious and stark.
Higher taxes, reduced services, or both.
If you don’t believe that this is right or fair either, could I politely invite you to write to your respective MPs asking them what they are going to do to help influence the outcome, which is dreadful for Bromley. You can help in terms of lobbying your MP to influence the Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer to alter course with their review before it’s too late please.
For those of you interested in the microdetails supporting Bromley’s position, the link below will be of interest too.
Bromley's response to the Government's Fair Funding Review 2.0.
In the meanwhile, please be sure to enjoy what’s left of summer whilst it’s still there.
Kind regards and best wishes,
Cllr Colin P. Smith,
Leader of Bromley Council
Colin.Smith@bromley.gov.uk
020 8313 4949
07930 275 878