Local Government Finance (England)

Paul Maynard Excerpts

Wednesday 10th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

What I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that London Councils welcomed many of the changes we have made in this settlement, including the provision of a four-year settlement. One of the concerns councils have had for many years is that, with annual funding, they were not able to plan ahead and reap some of the economies.

[Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State give way?

[Greg Clark]

The hon. Member for Harrow West (Mr Thomas) will also know that, in terms of the response to the provisional settlement, I have made extra resources available to Harrow, which I think has gone down well in his borough.

[Paul Maynard]

Will the Secretary of State give way?

[Greg Clark]

I will give way to my vigorous hon. Friend.

[Paul Maynard]

I thank my right hon. Friend not only for finding extra money for Lancashire, but for listening to me and not taking that money out of Blackpool’s budget. Blackpool is another urban area facing high levels of need. He has performed a balancing trick very adroitly.

[Greg Clark]

I am grateful for what my hon. Friend has said. Blackpool has important pressures that need to be met, and he has made representations, as indeed have his local authorities. It is true that some advised that some transitional relief should come at the expense of places such as Blackpool. However, I have been able to find a way for us to provide some relief for the years in which the reductions in grant are sharpest, without making the situation worse for places such as Blackpool, which have benefited from the settlement.