We will hold council leaders to account on protecting services, says Northumberland Labour

Reacting to the publication of research by the County Council Network, Northumberland  Labour says it will hold council leaders to account on protecting vital services.

County Councillor Lynne Grimshaw said: “Just as living costs are spiralling out of control for individuals and families, they are spiralling out of control for councils.

“The County Council Network’s research talks of cuts to services and infrastructure projects being cancelled to save money,at a time when people need help most.”

The alarming new figures, based on research carried out by the County Councils Network (CCN) and the Society of County Treasurers (SCT), reveals that the estimated costs of inflation in 2022/23 for county authorities has risen by 9 per cent since they set their budgets in March. With the price of fuel, materials, and energy rising, the UK’s inflation rate has jumped from five and half per cent at the turn of the year to nine per cent in Spring.

County authorities like Northumberland are particularly exposed because of the nature of delivering services and construction projects in large rural areas.

Scott added: “We will be asking that council leaders look for support from the national government to enable them to continue to provide the services that people in Northumberland need.

“So far this government has made a lacklustre effort to tackle the cost of living crisis. At some point this spiralling must stop and the government has it in its power to help make that happen, if it chooses to do so.

“The last thing people who are being affected because of cost of living hikes need is to find that the services they rely are no longer there.”