REVEALED: Government gives Broxbourne 5th highest grant rise in country

Broxbourne is to receive the fifth-highest grant increase in England, up nearly 13 per cent, revealed Opposition Leader Alan McCole.

Welcoming the news, Cllr McCole (Labour, Waltham Cross) said: "Broxbourne Council suffered repeated grant cuts under the Tories. I'm delighted the council is now gaining from the Government's fairer distribution of money. All councils have been guaranteed above-inflation increases, but Broxbourne's rise should be a considerable boost to the borough. Despite Conservative scaremongering, this borough has received the fifth-highest increase in the country."

The Government will give Broxbourne an extra 12.8 per cent from April. For the first time, every council in the country will get an above-inflation rise.

Cllr McCole continued: "Unfortunately, the council looks set to waste much of the extra £0.7 million just filling the black hole at the John Warner Sports Centre where losses are running at £50,000 a month. I've been calling for action on this for many months but the Tories just pushed their heads further into the sand. It's about time the council took responsibility for its actions instead of waiting for local people to pick up the bill.

"Marion Roe said the Government was giving more money to badly-run councils. Well, in Broxbourne's case, she was right."

The grant increase - fact and fiction

MYTH: The Government is cutting grants from Tory shires?
FACT: Every council is guaranteed an above-inflation increase. Many shire districts like Broxbourne have done very well. Hertfordshire County Council has received well over inflation.

MYTH: Broxbourne's population has grown more than the grant increase?
FACT: The Government updates population estimates every year. Even with new census data, this year's population is up by only 2.8%.

MYTH: The Council Tax provides most of Broxbourne Council's income?
FACT: Government raises 45%, charges raise 31%, Council Tax raises 24%.

MYTH: Broxbourne is one of the wealthier districts in the county?
FACT: It has the lowest average income in Herts (source: Inland Revenue).

MYTH: Councils are suffering under new bureaucracy?
FACT: "Excellent" councils (like Herts County Council) will have considerable new freedoms under Comprehensive Performance Assessment. Poorly-performing councils will have more Government involvement.

Report filed 12/01/2003

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