Harking back to 1997 again, the incoming Government promised to make local government finance fairer and more transparent. What kind of answer do you think they deserve to the question What do you think of it so far? Instinctively, most of us feel that
Harking back to 1997 again, the incoming Government promised to make local government finance fairer and more transparent.
What kind of answer do you think they deserve to the question "What do you think of it so far?" Instinctively, most of us feel that the settlements are getting less and less fair - particularly in Conservative-controlled areas. And when it comes to transparency, the present "Four Block System" by which local authority grants are presented is right up there with mud and blackout curtains.
The combined might of all the county councils in the country - The County Councils Network - has failed to find anyone in national government who can explain the calculations behind the changes to the Supporting People Grant or the Resource Equalisation Process.
Assuming that the Government has nothing to hide, and assuming that the changes were made on a rational mathematical basis (rather than a minister's wet finger in the air), how come we are not allowed to be privy to the calculations?
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