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A GOOD NEWS LABOUR SETTLEMENT FOR KENT Once again the Labour Government has announced a financial settlement for the core funding of Kent County Council above the rate of consumer price inflation. For the next three years funding for schools will increase between +3.6% and +4.9% per year, whilst other services will increase between +3.2% and +3.7% a year. This continues the trend of increases above inflation that has marked the period of the Labour Government and which stands in distinct contrast with the Tory years when cutbacks were the norm. Other good news is the announcement that the Labour Government will in future subsidise interest payments on new approved borrowing by Kent County Council. This should have the effect of encouraging more much-needed capital investment in schools, social services, highways, public transport and the environment. Labour Shadow Leader Mike Eddy says: “This is a good news settlement for the people of Kent. The Tories were claiming that there would be cutbacks in funding but in the event the Labour Government has proved them wrong once again by this settlement, which guarantees above consumer price inflation growth for the next three years”. Deputy Labour Leader and Finance spokesperson Derek Smyth says: “After months of whingeing that disaster lay ahead, the Tories are now having to adjust to the reality that they have received a good settlement for Kent. There will be no excuse for excessive increases in council tax this year”.
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