UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, today welcomed two announcements set to boost local government finances.
A £50m grant will be given to councils to help with economic recovery, according to John Denham, Communities Secretary.
And Barbara Follett, Local Government Minister, also confirmed that councils will be given financial support to manage equal pay, which will see tens of thousands of employees Ð mainly low-paid women Ð better off.
Dave Prentis said:
ÒThe GovernmentÕs £50m grant is welcome and will go some way towards helping hard hit areas ride out the recession, while the capitalisation process should galvanise into action those councils that still have to bring in equal pay.
ÒThis shows the GovernmentÕs continuing determination to support communities and end years of inequality in local government.
ÒTens of thousands of women are already better off through equal pay capitalisation and many more should benefit from todayÕs announcement.
ÒCommunities will also benefit from the the £50m funding boost, as local government support is vital to help families and businesses pick themselves up after tougher times.
ÒThe money should act as a kick-start to councils to release locked down money they hold in reserves, which should be ploughed back into helping local people.
ÒCouncils should be investing in their local communities. Instead many Tory councils are chasing votes by freezing council taxes and cutting services – which does nothing to help revive their flagging local economies.Ó
