Councillors in Greenwich are poised to call for a fairer funding deal for London.

A motion tabled for next week’s full council will urge the government to treat London in a “fair way”, and ensure business rates are retained 100 per cent by Greenwich Council.

London’s councils are expecting another year of financial pressures, with reports claiming they need £500 million in funding to cope.

The call comes as the government prepares to launch its fair funding review, determining how cash will be handed out to local councils.

MORE COUNCIL: Old Royal Naval College proposed rebrand sparks Greenwich Council debate

According to the document, which has been backed by council leader Dan Thorpe amongst others, previous reviews have “not favoured London.”

The motion reads: “We have already been informed that it is the Government’s intention that the new joint Children’s and Adults’ Social Care Support Grant will be distributed using a formula that takes no account of children as a factor and works against London.

 

“It will result in a loss of £900k for Greenwich. This is in addition to the resetting of the business retention London pilot scheme from 100 per cent to 75 per cent from April 2020.

“Such sustained resource reduction, at the same time as a significant demand for services, has created acute pressure on local services; notably adult social care, children services and homelessness.

“The current system is neither fit for purpose or sustainable.”

MORE: Resident left waiting for nearly 15 minutes for council emergency hotline

Greenwich Council has had to make more than £100m in savings since 2010.

Councillors are set to call for “more freedoms and flexibilities” for the sector to “raise revenue and use resources to cope with demand”.

The motion will be debated next Wednesday at Greenwich Town Hall.

Last week, campaigners took to the streets of Sidcup to demonstrate that London councils are at “breaking point” in terms of finances.