'Urgent' £20m plea as Surrey County Council sets budget

Council leader David Hodge warned services would be reduced further if extra funding wasn't provided

A Conservative council has made an urgent call for an extra £20m from the government as it sets its budget.

Surrey County Council (SCC) said it could not set a sustainable budget without the extra funds.

Council leader David Hodge said the case had been accepted by all 11 local MPs. They will meet local government secretary Greg Clark this week.

The Department for Communities and Local Government said SCC's spending power was forecast to increase by 0.5%.

The council said Whitehall had "slashed" its 2016 grant by nearly £50m.

Spending power

The council is considering increasing council tax by 3.9% including the social care precept.

But Mr Hodge said without a rethink by ministers, residents would only see services reduced further because the proposed government funding cut would "dwarf" the £24m raised from the council tax rise.

Mr Hodge said: "I am cautiously optimistic that ministers will accept our argument and provide us with extra funding.

"That is why the budget our cabinet will consider assumes the extra money will be provided - without it we can't set a sustainable budget."

A government spokesman said: "Council tax bills will be less in real terms at the end of this parliament than they were in 2010.

"This government is providing a long-term funding settlement for the first time allowing local authorities to plan with certainty.

"Surrey County Council's core spending power is forecast to increase by 0.5% and the county will still have over £3.19 billion to spend between now and 2020."

The cabinet will propose a budget on 2 February and the full council will vote on it on 9 February.