Levelling Up Funding announcement “a disgrace”

The Leader of Redbridge Council has spoken out following the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak’s, spending review on Wednesday (3 March). As part of the Levelling Up Fund, the allocation of funding for Redbridge falls into the lowest need category, not recognising the east London borough as the engine of the capital that it is.

Redbridge has high proportions of frontline workers across healthcare, construction, retail and transport that have continued to put themselves at risk to keep the capital running.  With some of the highest rates of overcrowding, people on government support and pockets of entrenched deprivation, the level of funding allocated will only add to the inequalities already faced by the people of Redbridge.

Many of the characteristics that make the borough such a unique place have also contributed to the disproportionate impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councillor Jas Athwal, Leader of the council, said:

“This government should be investing to rebuild the hardest hit boroughs like Redbridge. Many of our residents have been through the most difficult period in their lives and government should treat all areas of the country fairly. This is not the time for politics.

"The pandemic has hit East London particularly hard, with a huge impact on businesses and residents. Many people feel that Redbridge should be near the front of the queue for emergency financial aid.

“It’s a disgrace that once again, Redbridge residents have been short-changed by this government as we are considered a lower priority than leafy Stratford Upon Avon! Only last week, the government forced a 5% council tax rise on Redbridge residents.

“I intend to tackle government on this blatant disregard of the needs of local people, diverting the money away from Redbridge. I have raised this matter with the Leader of the Opposition in Redbridge to seek their support.

“We need a fair deal to bring hope and renewal as our area emerges from the pandemic.”

The government’s formula for allocating the Levelling Up Fund has not been revealed but is perceived as inexcusably unfair, as it fails to understand the connections between authorities and communities in London. It means that an area like Redbridge, which has been one of the boroughs hit hardest by COVID-19 and already has pockets of significant deprivation is not able to access resources to the same degrees as other areas.

This goes against the government’s own words in the Levelling Up prospectus, which states that the Fund is especially intended to support investment in places where it can make the biggest difference to everyday life.

(ENDS)

NOTES:

The Levelling Up Fund, which applies to the whole of the UK, brings together the Department for Transport, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Treasury to invest £4.8 billion in high value local infrastructure.

Link to the prospectus: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966138/Levelling_Up_prospectus.pdf

Link to the list of local authorities by priority: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-prospectus