Hull faces 'cliff edge' without more government funding - councillors

A report says Hull City Council is facing a deficit of £8m by 2025

The leaders of Hull City Council's two main parties have written to the government asking for more money for the city.

Council leader Mike Ross of the Lib Dems and opposition Labour leader Daren Hale said Hull faced a "toxic cocktail" without more financial support.

A council report highlights a projected budget deficit of £8m by 2025.

The BBC has contacted the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for a response.

In their letter, the leaders said that the city faced a "cliff edge" in 2025-26 unless more cash was committed.

"It is expected that Hull will be able to set a balanced budget and maintain vital services over the next 12 months," they said.

"Without additional government support, this will not be the case from April by 2025 and the council will be unable to maintain the services needed to protect our most vulnerable and rightly expected by our residents.

"This frightening prospect has created a toxic cocktail for local authorities right across the country, not just here in Hull."

They added: "Put starkly, without additional government support, we will not be able to support our residents with the services they need and deserve."

Council leader Mike Ross of the Lib Dems (L) and opposition Labour leader Daren Hale jointly wrote to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove

A financial report due to be discussed by the council at the end of the month said that the city had cut £150m from its budget over the last few years, largely by reducing staff numbers by around 1,500.

It highlights drops in the Core Spending Power (CPS) money given to the council from central government.

The report claims Hull has seen a loss of £111m in CSP between 2010 and 2023, a real-terms cut of 27.9%.

It adds: "As a result, there now remains little scope to make further efficiency savings and as such cost reductions of the scale potentially envisaged from 2025/26 will inevitably impact on service delivery".