Agenda item

Copy attached

It was moved by Councillor Howard, seconded by Councillor Lappin:

Sefton Council Commends Historic Budget October 2024

Sefton Council commends the historic budget delivered by the Labour Government on 30^th October 2024.

For the first time in many years, we welcome a new co-operative and collaborative way of working with Local Government. Over the last 14 years Local Government has felt the full force of austerity which as in turn seriously impacted on all Sefton residents, we look forward to the next five years with confidence and a government which will unleash the power and innovation of local government which in turn will enable our local residents to enjoy improved living conditions. This budget will:

·       Improve the health of Sefton residents by allocating an extra £25.7bn to the NHS over this year and the next, representing the biggest increase in NHS spending since 2010, excluding COVID-19 years.

·       Tackle in-work poverty for Sefton residents by increasing the minimum wage for millions of workers, representing a £1,400 increase for an eligible full-time worker.

·       Breaks down barriers to opportunity for Sefton children through a £1.8bn expansion in funding to childcare, a £1bn uplift to SEND funding and a £30m funding commitment to set up breakfast clubs.

·       Will enable the re-building of crumbling Sefton schools through the provision of £1.4bn, targeting 50 rebuilds a year nationally.

·       Will increase the number of affordable homes in Sefton through provision of an extra £500m to the Affordable Homes Programme.

·       Protects Sefton pensioners in their retirement by increasing the state pension by 4.1%, increasing the full basic state pension by £360 annually.

·       Protects a vital green space in Sefton by cancelling of the Port of Liverpool Access Road through Rimrose Valley.

·       Finally, helps to set Sefton Council back on the road to financial sustainability through the provision of £1.3bn of new grant funding for local authority services, including £600m in new grant funding for social care.

This council welcomes this investment in Sefton and resolves to work closely with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to achieve the best possible outcomes for Sefton residents.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Halsall, seconded by Councillor Doolin that the Motion be revised as follows:

Sefton Council Commends Historic Budget October 2024

Sefton Council welcomes the budget delivered by the Labour Government on 30th October 2024.

For the first time in many years, we welcome a new co-operative and collaborative way of working with Local Government. Over the last 14 years Local Government has felt the full force of austerity which as in turn seriously impacted on all Sefton residents, we look forward to the next five years with confidence and a government which will hopefully unleash the power and innovation of local government which in turn will enable our local residents to enjoy improved living conditions. 

This budget could:

• Improve the health of Sefton residents by allocating an extra £25.7bn to the NHS over this year and the next, representing the biggest increase in NHS spending since 2010, excluding COVID-19 years.
• Tackle in-work poverty for Sefton residents by increasing the minimum wage for millions of workers, representing a £1,400 increase for an eligible full-time worker.
• Breaks down barriers to opportunity for Sefton children through a £1.8on expansion in funding to childcare, a £1bn uplift to SEND funding and a £30m funding commitment to set up breakfast clubs.
• Will enable the re-building of crumbling Sefton schools through the provision of £1.4bn, targeting 50 rebuilds a year nationally.
• Will increase the number of affordable homes in Sefton through provision of an extra £500m to the Affordable Homes Programme.
• Protects Sefton pensioners in their retirement by increasing the state pension by 4.1%, increasing the full basic state pension by £360 annually.
• Protects a vital green space in Sefton by cancelling of the Port of Liverpool Access Road through Rimrose Valley.
• Finally, helps to set Sefton Council back on the road to financial sustainability through the provision of £1.3bn of new grant funding for local authority services, including £600m in new grant funding for social care.

Whilst this is welcomed if Sefton is to thrive this Council requests that the national government provides dedicated funding for the restoration and revitalization of the pier, recognising its historic and economic importance to the community. Additionally, the Council calls on the national government to improve public transport links from Southport by increasing funding for local bus services and reopening the Burscough Curves rail lines to establish direct rail connections to Preston and beyond. These investments are vital for enhancing accessibility, supporting local tourism, and strengthening the regional economy.

Furthermore, the Council urges the national government to support local businesses through funding and protections to ensure they can thrive within the community, helping to create a resilient local economy. Finally, we call on the government to allocate new funding to enable the Council to bring the care sector back under local authority control, ensuring higher standards and better working conditions for care staff, to the benefit of all residents who rely on these essential services.

This council welcomes this investment in Sefton and resolves to work closely with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to achieve the best possible outcomes for Sefton residents.

Following a debate on the amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Deputy Chair declared that the amendment was lost by 2 votes to 53.

Thereafter, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote on the Motion and the Deputy Chair declared that the Motion was carried by 41 votes to 15.