Bury Tory Leader responds to Councils Press Release regarding the "Fair Funding Review"

Saturday, 24 February 2024 12:40

By David Murphy

Cllr Russell Bernstein, Tory Conservatives Leader

The Leader of the Bury Conservative Party, Cllr Russell Bernstein, has issued a public statement in relation to the press release that Bury Council published this week.

The Council issued the following press statement earlier this week, which can be read in our article here: https://www.rochvalleyradio.com/news/local-news/council-leaders-call-for-urgent-fair-funding-review-as-they-set-toughest-budget-yet/ and Cllr Russell Bernstein, Leader of Bury Conservatives has issued a statement following this.

Cllr Russell Bernstein:

“What the Leader of the Council and Councillor Gold continually fail to mention is that the Conservative Group in September 2023 offered to go direct to Government and raise the issue of Fair Funding. Bury Labour supported by Radcliffe First and the Tottington Independent voted against this and chose to embark on a navel gazing exercise which after 5 months has delivered absolutely nothing. The difference between Bury Conservatives and other political parties on Bury Council is we want to deliver for the people for whom we serve.

This builds on the delivery of £190 million of Conservative Government funding invested in our Borough since 2019 for which I personally want to thank James Daly MP for is assistance in delivering.

Also Government have delivered an above inflation increase in core spending which for Bury is 7.7% for 24/25.

The maximum increase of 4.99% in Council Tax and Social Care Precept for 24/25 is only being made because Bury Labour supported yet again by Radcliffe First and the Tottington Independent have made a political decision to follow political dogma against a more prudent financial choice which the Conservative Group provided which included a freeze on Council Tax and Social Care Precept and injecting £6.5 million into the much needed reserves.

It is wholly inappropriate for any Local Council in this case Bury to plead for financial support from Government or indeed local council tax payers to support political dogma however laudable it might be perceived to be.

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