Rural Councils Face Funding Inequities in UK

The Rural Services Network (RSN) has raised alarms over the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, highlighting a significant funding disparity between rural and urban councils. Despite government claims of no reductions in Core Spending Power, many rural authorities saw no increase, while urban areas received up to 10% more funding, culminating in rural councils being at a 41% disadvantage in per capita government support. This trend has resulted in rural residents paying 20% more in Council Tax per head, exacerbating financial inequities. Local council leaders, including Cllr Gareth Dadd, have criticized the government for 'cherry picking' funding towards urban areas, which has forced rural councils into difficult budget decisions. The County Councils Network (CCN) has echoed these concerns, stating that rural councils will face more service cuts and increased council tax due to inadequate funding. Overall, the settlement raises serious concerns about the sustainability of rural services in light of escalating costs and stagnant financial support.