THE social care crisis and Bradford’s inclusion on the Northern Powerhouse Rail line should be priorities in this week’s Autumn statement, it has been argued.

On Thursday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt will reveal his financial plan for the coming years, including what cash local Councils will be given.

In advance of the statement, Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe has written to Mr Hunt to make clear what funding the Bradford district needs.   In recent weeks, it has emerged that Bradford Council faces a huge budget gap in the coming years – with particular pressures on Children’s Services.

The cost of living crisis is also expected to fuel additional demand for services.

In the letter to Jeremy Hunt Cllr Hinchcliffe has asked the government for support in four key areas:

To provide on-going support through the cost of living crisis. The letter says: “Bradford is already home to high levels of disadvantage and wages lag behind regional and national averages.  Ageing housing stock leaves people here particularly vulnerable to fuel poverty and without immediate Government support we will see households facing destitution.”

To maintain the national commitment promised by previous Prime Ministers to Levelling Up and a high-speed rail link to northern cities with a station in Bradford City Centre. The letter adds: “This is key to unlocking Bradford’s growth potential and could deliver growth worth £30 billion, 27,000 jobs and a regeneration site three times the size of Canary Wharf.”

To deliver certainty and stability in Council funding and address the social care crisis. Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “Independent analysis shows that Bradford would have benefited by an additional £32 million funding had the national Fair Funding Review and business rates reform been implemented. There is also urgent action needed to tackle pressure on adults and children’s social care. This is a national issue but Bradford has seen rising demand for both.” 

To work with us on public sector reform. The letter states: “Bradford Council wants to work with Government to do things differently.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe added: “Bradford is the country’s youngest city. Its unrivalled growth potential has seen it ranked as the number one levelling up opportunity. But we need government investment to help us unlock that growth potential.

“We know that these are challenging times but both the Chancellor and the Prime Minister have recognised that mistakes were made in September’s mini-budget which have worsened the national finances. People and businesses in our district should not have to pay for those mistakes.

“The last decade of national austerity has seen deep cuts to services and you can’t cut twice.”

However, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) says the letter fails to prioritise Bradford’s beleaguered Children’s Services department.

She said: “I am surprised that the leader of Council has not put support to rescue our failing Children’s Services Department at the top of this list.

“Without proper help to pay the eye-watering salaries of the people being recruited to run the new company the cash will have to come from already strained Council budgets.”