A recent constituency meeting I held with Central Devon County Councillors underscored the vital role of adult social care and special educational needs services in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
I know from these conversations that the challenges in delivering these services continue to increase in a wide range of areas, whether it’s in terms of the complexity of care for older people and working age adults or the provision of residential and community services for adults with a learning disability.
Speaking to Councillors and residents in Central Devon as I do on a regular basis, it is clear that strengthening these and other indispensable services delivered by Devon County Council, such as education and highways, are essential for building resilience within our communities.
In a promising move for Devon residents, the Local Government Finance Settlement announced last week will give a £56.8 million boost to Devon County Council next year.
These additional funds will help our local leaders in Devon take long-term decisions to deliver a brighter future for areas like ours in Central Devon.
The 7.8% increase in Devon County Council’s budget also reaffirms the Conservative government's unwavering commitment to empowering local authorities by making sure they have the resources to support the services that underpin our daily lives.
The injection of funds into local authority budgets builds on the significant funding boost councils received last year, showing the Conservative Government’s plan to ensure local authorities have the resources they need is working.
As Central Devon is one of the most rural constituencies in the UK, I particularly welcomed the increase to the Rural Services Grant. This means across the country £110million will be spent on supporting hard-to-reach communities, making sure no one is left behind.
Residents of Devon can also be reassured that Conservative-led reforms to council tax will shield them from exorbitant hikes without due consultation.
The Local Government Finance Settlement comes on top of the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund and £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and is part of a broader government strategy aimed at levelling disparities and fostering prosperity across the nation.
We halved inflation from 11.1 to 4 per cent last year but we recognise organisations across the UK, including local authorities, are facing cost pressures due to Covid and the war in Ukraine.
That is why we are sticking to the plan, continuing to drive down inflation and ensuring local authorities in England have the long-term funding they need to manage their finances for the long-term.
The increase to the Local Government Settlement Fund gives local authorities like Devon County Council the financial latitude to provide vital services for residents, bolster community infrastructure and enact lasting reforms.
It also signifies a commitment that the government will continue invest in our communities and support the services that will deliver a brighter future for us, our children and grandchildren.
