With budgetary pressures mounting, one local council has received praise from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities following its management of finances.
Last December, and again in March, Tandridge District Council wrote to Local Government Minister Lee Rowley requesting approval to use £500,000 from the sale of a council property to bolster its reserves. That particular request was denied due to the department’s assessment of the council’s “overall financial position” including the current levels of reserves.
Since then, however, a letter has been written from the Levelling Up Department to the council’s Chief Executive David Ford, praising the measures that have been taken to transform the council whilst managing its budget. This letter, from the head of local government finance stewardship, says:
“The department recognises and commends the council’s efforts to grip and manage its budget pressures, and the successful steps taken to deliver the transformation and savings programme in 2022-23 and 2023-24.”
In response to the letter, Councillor Chris Langton, Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, said:
“Although disappointing that our approach to using our own resources to increase financial resilience has not been supported, it is good news that the Council’s efforts to turn around its finances have been recognised.
“This is a result of a tremendous effort by everyone at the council at a time when there are great financial pressures on local government. I am delighted this hard work has been acknowledged.”
This news of positive financial management comes at a time when many councils are struggling with budgetary requirements, and follows recent news of councils such as those in Cumberland, Leeds and Birmingham undertaking a range of measures to control costs.
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