Mayor's top 5 priorities for the 2015 Budget
MAYOR of Liverpool, Joe Anderson,
outlines his 5 key priorities for the City.
1. Fair funding deal
"Between 2010 and 2017, government grants to Liverpool City Council will
be cut by 58%; some £330 million. This is a hammer blow to our finances and
forces the Council to innovate in the ways we operate and provide services. But
innovation only gets us so far. The scale of cuts we are dealing with is
unprecedented and unsustainable beyond 2017. In fact, if we were just facing the
average national funding cut, we would be £80 million a year better off."
We are asking for a fair funding formula from Government, not 1 that penalises
Cities like Liverpool!
2. HS2
"Under current plans, there is no proposal to extend the HS2 line to
Liverpool. This is a massive mistake. As well as an estimated £8.3bn boost to
the Liverpool City Region (Merseyside), HS2 would bring 14,000 new jobs, raise an estimated
£30 million in extra business rates, boost the visitor economy and help us
capitalise on our plans to become a global logistics hub, linking our Superport
proposals with the rest of the UK."
Extend HS2 to Liverpool; 20 more miles than currently planned!
3. "Devo Scouse" package...
"If Cities like Liverpool are to become part of the "Northern Powerhouse"
we need the powers and economic levers to match the aspiration. Greater control
over transport to improve connectivity. Powers over spatial planning and housing
to drive regeneration and sustainable development. The ability to work with
business to deliver the skills base we need to compete. But Manchester shows
where the bar is now set. We need the same package of measures they have in
order to develop our potential to the full. In order to properly integrate NHS
services with social care, we need to see the real devolution of decision making
and budgets. To make this package truly transformational, we also need real
political clout. That's why I remain committed to a metro mayor for the
Liverpool City Region and for Merseyside."
Real powers, new budgets and a fresh approach to City Region (Merseyside) governance - Give us
'Devo Scouse'.
4. Rescue social care...
"From April, Councils like Liverpool will implement the Care Act, bringing
with it a new national standard for assessing care needs. But with an ageing
population, the pressures on social care budgets are now relentless. Cuts to our
grant mean we are reducing adult social care spending by £42 million by 2017. If
we are to bridge the aspirations of the Care Act with the reality of a shrinking
budget, then the Government needs to act."
Urgently review social care funding allocations to match resources to need.
5. Ring fence Children's Centres...
"If we are serious about tackling deprivation, then we need to address it
in childhood. Despite the budget cuts we face and despite the fact Children's
Centres are primarily a discretionary area of spending, we have decided to
guarantee an extra £2.2 million to keep all our 17 children's centres open until
2017. If the government is equally serious about giving our kids the best start
in life and practical support for families there is a simple remedy for all
parties."
Ring fence funding for Children's Centres.
