In October 2023, Wokingham Borough’s Liberal Democrat councillor responsible for finance said: “Everyone is hoping there’ll be a change of government and there’s be a proper look at how councils are funded”. I wonder if now in 2025, one year into the new Labour Government, having already lost more than a £1 million in funding since Labour took power, she regrets her wish.
Last week, we heard that the Labour Government has decided Wokingham Borough Council should lose an additional £47 million over the next three years. Compare this to the previous Conservative Government, which increased Wokingham Borough’s grant funding by £2.3 million in 2024.
The Government is currently consulting on a new “Fair” Funding formula that is set to take money away from Wokingham Borough and redistribute it to mainly Labour areas. Our Borough will lose more of its locally paid business rates and will see a steep reduction in grants and funding from the Government.
Council Tax increases over the next few years will not mean more funding for Council services. Instead, your Council Tax will go up, but funding will go down.
Councils in the South East are likely to lose the most money. The South East raises the second largest amount of tax revenue, including income, inheritance and other forms of tax for the Government, but spends among the least when it comes to public sector expenditure per head.
Labour promised “change” and we’re certainly getting that. But it’s damaging change, not good change.
This Labour Government has only been in power a year and all we get is tax hikes, the winter fuel payment debacle, doubling the Borough’s housing numbers, going back on their promise to rebuild the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and now eye watering cuts to funding for the Council. The Council has already had to cover extra cost forced on it by the Government like increased employers’ national insurance.
The Liberal Democrats should be pressing the Government to change their approach. But they should also be doing more to maximise opportunities to create an income for the Council that doesn’t simply depend on increasing tax and charges.
So far, they’re not doing enough. For the last two and a half years, valuable Council office space has been left mothballed and empty rather than generating an income for the Council. The flats at Carnival Pool which were designed to be sold for the benefit of Council taxpayers are still not complete.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats are letting down voters who put their trust in them.
P.S. – A huge congratulations to the Lionesses on becoming back-to-back European champions. It’s a moment of pride for England, and demonstrates how much women’s football has flourished. In 2023, the Council passed a Conservative motion to ensure girls in the Borough have the opportunity to play football at school – unfortunately not supported by Labour councillors. While there is still more to do, it’s a significant first step to ensuring equal access to nurture this country’s future female footballers.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives
