“Tough decisions are tough decisions”, was the line from the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer when answering a question about Labour’s move to take away the Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners last week.

While some will see the move as a signal that this government is willing to ‘do what it takes’ to get the country back on its feet, others are both surprised and alarmed that a Labour government should target pensioners before others, in order to balance the books.

Either way, the idea that tough decisions need to be made will strike a chord with many councils, including our own Hampshire County Council, which is coming to terms with the implications of funding cuts that were the gift of the last government in their final days in power. 

I am sure the new leader of Hampshire Country Council, (their third leader in as many years) will not be thanking his old Conservative government colleagues for voting through further cuts to local authorities before the General Election. The impact of which they would have known, would not be felt until after the election.

The outlook for Hampshire County Council is challenging to say the least. Central government funding cuts and a revised budget review which has forecast a £175m budget gap, up from £132m gap forecast last year, will inevitably put more crucial public services in the firing line for cuts.

The council has already announced that it is consulting schools and nurseries on proposals to close its Education Catering service. This is the latest in a string of controversial proposals that include cutting school patrol crossings and closing waste recycling sites, as well as making cuts to road maintenance budgets.

Budget forecasts are based on assumptions. They are not always sound, which is why budget forecasts need to be revised. Will the assumptions around the ability to tap into reserves, pause capital projects and realise savings and grants in this latest budget forecasts prove accurate? Or will we see that £175m gap get bigger still? Will even more cuts be needed?

All councils’ ability to raise taxes themselves is currently capped at 5 per cent. Anything over this would trigger the need for a referendum. There has been some talk that government may look to remove the cap either in part or even entirely. Although this would give councils the ability to raise much needed funding, the public backlash against councils could be significant.

Tough decisions will prove very tough indeed for Hampshire County Council and for its residents. A reduction in service provision and the possibility of Council Tax increases will have real and significant consequences for the people of Hampshire.

Geoff Cooper,
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Romsey and Southampton North