Government sticks the boot into Lambeth

10.37.25pm GMT Mon 20th Feb 2006

Central government has made severe cuts in its funding of local government in Lambeth. Despite inflation running at 2.7% (and some local wage claims above that), the government have given Lambeth only a 2% increase in the local authority support grant for 2006-07.

However, on top of that, they have also without warning abolished the 'Safeguarding Children' grant (worth £1.6 million per year) which Lambeth Council Tax payers will now have to find.

Lib Dem campaigner Councillor Charles Anglin says "Lib Dems have forced through huge improvements in Lambeth finances - cutting debt, keeping budgets on target, collecting more Council Tax and generally clearing the mess left by the previous Labour administration. This year's local authority grants are a cut in real terms and big blow to the borough and its Council Tax payers."