Rother reacts furiously to spending cuts

The 38-strong council - its largely Conservative and Liberal Democrat mix ironically echoing Britain’s ruling coalition - clearly felt it had been sold a dummy by its own side.

Having been led to expect cuts of around 28 per cent over four years, the reality is that Rother will have to adjust to the reduction in just two -- and then possibly tighten its belt still further two years after that.

Council leader Carl Maynard (Con) said: “All in all, this is the most appalling settlement I can recall, made worse by the spin which the government has sought to put on it.”

He said that part of the council’s response to the news would be to ask both local MPs, Tories Amber Rudd and Greg Barker - also a junior minister - to attend next month and explain the government’s decision in person.

Councillor Christopher Starnes (Con) and Lib Dem group leader, Cllr Sue Prochak, both sought to clarify government claims that the revenue support grant settlement would mean no council losing more than 8.9 per cent of its spending power, and what this meant locally.

Cllr Maynard said the statement was correct, but added: “It is also totally misleading the public so far as the real financial impact upon local authorities is concerned.

“So-called ‘spending power’ is a new concept deliberately designed to mask the true depth of the cuts in grant.

“We have lost, in cash terms, more than £1 million, which equates to a true reduction in year-on-year government grant received of 16.8 per cent.”

Cllr Maynard said only 15 other districts nationwide had received worse settlements, and locally Wealden had also lost 16.8 per cent, Eastbourne 14.63, Hastings 14.79, Lewes 16.39 and East Sussex County Council 12.55.

Cllr Starnes called the situation “outrageous” and asked what would be done to ensure Rother residents fully understood how the government had misled them over the true extent of cuts.

Cllr Maynard said a formal response would go to Whitehall, also that Rother would be lobbying the Local Government Associatrion, the District Councils’ network and the SPARSE group representing rural authorities over the settlement.

Cllr Prochak pledged Rother’s Lib Dems would work cross-party with the Tories “to see Rother through” and added: “The spin of government must be exposed outright.”