Wokingham Borough Council is experiencing severe financial pressures due to high inflation, high interest rates and increasing demand for our services. 

These are made far worse by the poor deal that the council has had from central government.

Wokingham receives less core support per head of population than any other “unitary authority” responsible for the full range of local services.

The reliable, core funding that Wokingham does receive is £30 million a year less than the average unitary authority – £400 less per household.

READ MORE: Wokingham Borough Council faces tough job to achieve balanced budget

This is a result of the government’s funding formula, which directs most support to councils in areas with the highest levels of recorded deprivation.

The formula assumes that because our borough has relatively few people judged to be in poverty, everyone else is well off. That is not the case. There are some very well-off people, but many more are struggling or just about managing.

The formula also takes very little account of demand for complex and expensive provision of care for children and adults in need.

Rises in demand for children’s and adult services have to be paid for through council tax, income from fees and charges, and savings.

We are not asking for special favours, or denying the need to give most to councils with higher levels of deprivation. But we do want a fairer deal that takes account of the increasing demand and costs for providing social services.

If you back our campaign for fair funding, we hope it will persuade the government to establish a new funding formula for councils.

You can find more information, including a template letter to send to local MPs and the government, at Wokingham Borough Council’s website.