Government holding Shropshire to ransom over levelling up funds, say opposition councillors

The government has been accused of “holding a gun to Shropshire’s head” over suggestions that money may only be offered for major projects if it enters into a ‘combined authority’ with Telford under an elected mayor.

Liberal Democrat councillors say the move, put forward by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove after the county was again overlooked in the latest round of funding announced by his department last week, would take power away from local communities.

They are calling on the government to drop the proposition and give Shropshire its fair share of national funding.

Councillor David Vasmer, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Shropshire Council, said: “We are being held to ransom.

“Either you enter into negotiations for a mayor to cover the entirety of the old County of Shropshire, or Mr Gove will not even consider us for any Levelling Up funds.

“We are told that the government is in favour of giving power back to local communities but they are doing the very opposite.

“Here in Shropshire, we don’t want the government in Westminster telling us how Shropshire or Telford should be run.”

Councillor Vasmer said the suggestion was yet more proof of the government “taking the people of Shropshire for granted” – something already evidenced by the continued delays to the promised ‘fair funding review’, announced in 2017.

The review is set to overhaul how money for local authorities is calculated, and is expected to result in more funding for rural areas.

“Despite its so-called commitment to give more money to under-funded rural areas like Shropshire, the council’s funding from central government has been cut back and cut back ever since,” said Councillor Vasmer.

“Shropshire people deserve better.”

He continued: “In other parts of England, there has been agreement that the creation of a powerful mayor could be beneficial.

“There has been no such agreement in our county. Cornwall has been given devolved powers and finances without having to appoint a mayor.

“All political parties in Shropshire are agreed that the current arrangement of two unitary councils makes a lot of sense.

“Shropshire Council takes the lead in the more rural areas and Telford & Wrekin focuses on its more urban communities.

“There is no demand from residents for an overarching mayor that would take powers away from our existing councils. There is no demand from residents for merging the two councils.

“What residents and opposition councillors are demanding is that this county gets it rightful share of Levelling Up and other national funding.”