‘Give us a fair deal, Prime Minister’

‘OPPORTUNITY’: Councillor Mike Ross

EXCLUSIVE

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

The leader of Hull City Council is calling for a “reset” in the authority’s relationship with central government – and a new funding model for councils that takes into account need.

Councillor Mike Ross said last month’s General Election victory by Keir Starmer’s Labour Party offered the chance of a “fresh start” after 14 years of Conservative rule that had decimated the council’s finances.

The backdrop is a total funding cut to the council of a staggering £109.1m in government grants since 2010/11, when the austerity policy of previous Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne was introduced.

The authority is continuing to navigate its way through a “challenging” savings programme – needing to save a further £28.5m up to the financial year 2025/26 – at a time of increasing demand on frontline services.

Despite the challenges Coun Ross said he was optimistic of having a more constructive relationship with Government if Sir Keir’s new administration was prepared to listen and act quickly, as he urged them to “take this moment”.

Coun Ross, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, told The Hull Story: “I‘m not naïve about it. I recognise there are a lot of challenges for Government in general, and that this is just one of many issues they will have to deal with.

“But there is optimism from me that having a new Government gives that opportunity for a fresh start. And so they now need to take this moment. They have this chance in the early days of their time in office to seize that and actually make those changes that will see that change of approach.”

Last year, Hull – the fourth most deprived local authority area in the country – was one of a number of councils warning ministers they faced a “cliff edge” by 2025/26 if more funding was not forthcoming.

Coun Ross said: “We are amongst a pack of local authorities where it is difficult but not about to go under, but undoubtedly a few years ahead if there’s not a change in local government funding it does present a challenge.”

He added: “I think there needs to be a system that takes into account need. And you might say well you would say that being a council that represents the demographic we have here, but ultimately there is greater need in places like Hull so the funding should reflect that and should actually support those areas of need.”

The Hull Story Comment

Sir Keir Starmer promised “a decade of national renewal” when he launched his bid for the keys to No 10.

And just last month he declared “Those with skin in the game know what’s best for their communities” as he welcomed metro mayors to Downing Street shortly after becoming Prime Minister.

Both these statements have raised hopes about what can be achieved under a new Labour Government in a country that was desperate for change – but the latter in particular will have pricked up ears in Hull.

For too long our city has watched from the sidelines as investment and the power of local decision-making has poured into other cities and regions, not least to our relatively near northern neighbours in Leeds and Manchester.

Now is the time for that to change.

PROMISE: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Picture credit: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

So we welcome the timely and proactive approach of city council leader Mike Ross, who has recognised the opportunity for resetting relations with government and extended an invitation to the new Prime Minister to visit Hull and see for himself both the challenges and potential of our wonderful city.

And we’re not being greedy. As Councillor Ross’s recent letter inviting the PM to the city makes clear, Hull is the fourth most deprived local authority area in the country and has been stripped of more than £109m in government support since 2010/11.

That cannot continue, and we back Coun Ross’s appeal for a new funding formula for local government that takes into account need. It would go some way to redressing the balance.

We agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment expressed about people with “skin in the game”. And we hope Sir Keir lives up to the principle by reversing the top-down approach of the previous government when it comes to allocating funds and supporting major projects.

We also hope Sir Keir delivers on his promise. The proof will be there to see – it will be in our city centre, in our transport links, in our connectivity, on our streets and in our communities. Because unless such a strategically important city as Hull is part of this programme of change there can be no national renewal.