GOVERNMENT cuts are continuing to mount pressure on local public services, according to the leader of Bradford Council.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe has raised a motion for a meeting on Tuesday, December 13, in which she argues that local services are paying the price for the Government’s actions.

She said the Council has had to find over £310m in budget cuts and savings since 2011 and also labelled the Government’s September mini-budget as “disastrous”.

“During a cost of living crisis, the like of which has not been seen in our country for 40 years, our residents will rely even more on good local services to keep them going,” Cllr Hinchcliffe said.

“Councils face a perfect storm of ongoing government funding cuts, unprecedented inflation and rising demand for services.

“Inflation, alongside the National Pay Award and rises in the National Living Wage, will add an estimated £58.6m cost to our budget in 2023-24.”

The Government’s over-reliance on council tax to fill the gap left by funding cuts is counter to levelling up, Cllr Hinchcliffe added.

“When the Chancellor expects councils to increase council tax by five per cent, that raises half the amount per property in Bradford than in Elmbridge in Surrey relative to size,” she added.

“Indicatively, if five per cent raises £11m in Bradford, it would raise £22m in Elmbridge, Surrey – people in places that can least afford it, pay a higher proportion of their income on council tax than wealthier people and places.”

“The cross-party Local Government Association says councils face a £3.4bn shortfall in 2023-24 and £4.5bn in 2024-25.

“Chair of the LGA, Conservative councillor James Jamieson, has called on government to ‘come up with a long-term plan to manage this crisis. Reserves can only be spent once, a local service cannot be cut twice’.

“Despite these challenges, our ambitions for the Bradford district remain as strong as ever and we continue to invest in good services and to stimulate economic growth and opportunities for all our residents.”

The Telegraph & Argus approached the Department for Levelling Up for comment.

A Government spokesperson said: “This year, we have made available an additional £3.7 billion to councils to ensure they have the resources to deliver vital services, including an extra £35 million for Bradford Council.

“At the Autumn Statement, we also announced a further £6.5 billion will be made available for local government to deliver core services in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

“We will announce details on next year’s financial settlement shortly.”