Council disappointed with Provisional Local Government Funding Settlement

Whilst the Council welcomes the first multi-year funding settlement in over a decade, it does not reflect the demands and pressures faced by the Council. 

Councillor David Whipp, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “This settlement is extremely disappointing and does not tackle the reality councils are facing.

“Government funding is being cut in successive years, piling more pressure on hard-pressed council services.

“The so-called Fair Funding Review undertaken by the Government has not resulted in a fair allocation of funds - it falls short of what is needed to protect vital local services.

“Without fair and sustainable funding, councils will be faced with increasingly difficult issues that risk impacting the services our residents rely on.

“The Government is telling us to put up Council Tax by the maximum amount to make ends meet. This is another blow in the cost-of-living crisis.”

The Council has a good track record of managing its finances, delivering efficiencies, balancing its budget whilst endeavouring to meet the needs of residents, particularly those most vulnerable.

Councillor Whipp added: “Costs are rising faster than funding, demand for services like housing support continues to grow, and we’re having to introduce a weekly food waste collection service.

“We have so far had no indication of what funding will be provided to help us to provide this new mandatory service.

The Council will submit a formal response to the Government’s consultation on the provisional settlement.

It will also assess its implications as part of the Council’s budget-setting process for 2026/27.