Letter to Editor: Time for government to properly finance local government

Politics / Sun 15th Jan 2023 at 10:15am

Dear Editor,

COUNCILLOR Leppard is correct that the money for the bus station redevelopment is allocated for just that purpose so can’t be spent on other things.

Actually this criticism is not one which can be targeted at the Conservative administration at Harlow Council but instead levelled at the Conservative government who, for far too long, have cut finances to both Harlow Council and also Essex County Council (The Conservative administration at County Hall don’t help themselves when they fail to spend the money they have allocated for pot hole repairs) and instead expect councils like Harlow to go cap in hand for grants like this one.

It would be better if the government were to properly finance local government and give us the power to focus the money where we know it is needed the most.

Sadly the Conservative government has no trust or faith in local councils and local communities controlling their own destinies which is why I welcomed the announcement last week by Keir Starmer that the incoming Labour government would.

Cllr Chris Vince

7 Comments for Letter to Editor: Time for government to properly finance local government:

peter henegan

2023-01-15 11:03:36

Have just watched Politics East which reported on the lack of pot hole repairs, and included video of the holes in Old Harlow. Also showed video where a tory ECC councillor stood up and said repairs were low priority compared to solving the cost of living crisis. Does he not realize that damage caused by pot holes contributes to the cost of living. Inflation is measured by price changes. The real cost of inflation is hidden ie the continuing deterioration in our infrastructure despite us paying ever increasing taxes

David

2023-01-15 11:10:00

Today is national Pothole day, I would like to nominate Harlow for this award.

Nicholas Taylor

2023-01-15 11:16:40

Me thinks this is another article from a local politician sending out a smoke screen with the forthcoming elections in mind. Am I not right in saying Cllr Vince that when in power at the Council the Labour groups vision for the future of the Town Centre included a new bus station? There is absolutely no case being made that this would increase bus passenger numbers or indeed get people out of their cars on to a bus. When in power your Party failed miserably when it came to consulting residents, it is clear that the present administration has followed in your Party's footsteps. The bids being made to the Government are ill conceived, will do little to attract new visitors, do little if anything to attract more people to the Town Centre in the evenings and will leave the Council with long term funding issues in trying to maintain shrub beds, trees and cleaning and maintenance of the new bus station. Comments elsewhere show that those living in poorly maintained Council homes or damaging their cars in pot holes are fed up with Councillors spending tax payers money on projects that benefits no-one.

Kim Oconnor

2023-01-15 19:23:06

Labour had there chances, but did very little. This council, this government, don't want to hear us. We have to get back to listening to local people, and the needs of people living here first and foremost. There all about developing this town, but failing missserably to see the needs of people being left be hind. There are more then two party's.. Why do we have to go blue or Red, I say let some other party have a go. Because theses two clearly aren't on the same page as the working class.

Molly

2023-01-17 10:20:10

Time to cease splitting infinitives with adverbs! “Time for Government to finance local government properly”. It appears Harlow Labour Party is following Nicola Sturgeon’s awful grammatical gaffes.