Shropshire MPs have joined forces again in a bid to get fairer funding for Shropshire Council from Robert Jenrick, the Minster for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Shropshire Council has real concerns that their next tranche of government funding will be significantly less than that of the neighbouring Shropshire authority of Telford and Wrekin. Shropshire Council has been informed that they will receive £2m, yet Telford will receive £3.4m.
Shropshire has a population of more than double that of Telford and Wrekin, MP's believe that it would be fairer if the additional monies were allocated per capita and have written to Robert Jenrick to ask for an explanation as to why he is now using a different allocation model than previous allocations to local authorities during this pandemic. Had the third tranche methodology been used for the fourth tranche, Shropshire’s allocation would have been around £4.5m rather than £2m. Shropshire is 7th lowest out of 8 of its nearest neighbours, and all 8 of these authorities suffer from the fourth tranche methodology.
MPs are asking for an additional £1.4m to match the amount being made available to Telford and Wrekin Council, to help provide essential support in these difficult times.