Devon County Council criticises ‘misleading’ cash settlement from Westminster
Devon County Council argues that the government's claimed 23% funding increase is misleading, as it includes assumed council tax increases.Summary
Devon County Council has denounced the government’s announcement of a “23% increase” in funding as “highly misleading” and “inaccurate.” Councillors clarified that this figure is a cumulative measure over several years, not a year-on-year increase, and relies on assumptions of maximum council tax increases and high collection rates. Councillor James Buczkowski stated that the actual year-on-year increase is around 5%, largely driven by council tax assumptions. Council leader Cllr Julian Brazil further criticized the settlement, noting that while Devon will receive an extra £1.7 million next year, it will face losses of £5.8 million in the following two years. He emphasized that services are increasingly funded by local taxpayers rather than central government, and the presentation of increased core funding creates a false impression of financial abundance. The government is currently running a consultation on the provisional settlement, and future funding distribution will be determined by local areas as part of the planned local government reorganization in 2028.
(Source：North Devon Gazette)