Latest news with #PeterButlin
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Warwickshire County Council to be different whatever voters pick
Whatever happens at the election, Warwickshire County Council is about to look very isn't about the prospect of devolution, which could see the larger county-wide authority swallow up the smaller districts and boroughs from North Warwickshire to changes will be down to the number of new councillors that will be elected when the public go to the polls on 1 May.A total of 20 of the 57 sitting councillors will be stepping down. The Conservatives will make up the bulk of that number, with 17 of the 41 Conservatives who hold a seat going into the election stepping down – including four of the nine who make up the leader's them is Peter Butlin, the deputy leader who has overseen the council's finances; and Margaret Bell, the portfolio holder for adult social care and health. These are two areas which present the biggest challenges to the council, according to Conservative Izzi Seccombe, who has led the council for almost 12 said: "I am very keen, particularly, that we prevent people coming into need and that we try and help them to stay independent as long as possible."But the second important part is that we help to grow our economy. That we make sure we are an attractive place to do business." Recent results in the General Election, as well as the district and boroughs, could perhaps provide an insight into why some Conservatives have decided to call it a to the north of the county, Labour overturned a huge Tory majority in 2024 to take over Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. The Conservative MPs in the Nuneaton and North Warwickshire and Bedworth constituencies also lost their seats to Labour at the General that offers hope for Labour, a party looking to make inroads at a council they haven't led since 2005, when it was in no overall control. It's roads which Sarah Feeney, the Labour group leader on the authority, believes will be a key election said: "The state of the roads is probably one of the biggest things. If I look across every single division, yes people talk about social care, they talk about children's needs."But the state of the roads comes up time and time again here in Warwickshire, it's clear that people are unhappy with how long things take to get fixed." Another party which performed well in the north of the county during the 2024 General Election was Reform. While they didn't pick up any seats, they did finish third in the two constituencies – picking up 26% of the vote in North Warwickshire and Bedworth and 22% in have no history in the county council election, but Reform candidate James Crocker hopes the party's new-kid-on-the-block status will be part of its appeal to said: "The one thing that I can see is a genuine desire for change and it's coming from areas that maybe we've not seen in the past particularly."We've got a very different breed of candidate, that is really what I think people will notice over the next few months." The signs are that the south of the county could present a different challenge for the ruling Conservative Party. Stratford District Council is now under Liberal Democrat control after overturning a Tory majority in 2023 – marking the first time the council had been controlled by any other party since forming in the Liberal Democrat candidate for Stratford in the 2024 General Election overturned a Conservative majority of almost 20,000 to become the first Liberal MP there since Liberal Democrat group leader on the county council Jerry Roodhouse said care was one of the issues his party was seeing come up on the campaign trail. He said: "Adult social care and the elements of care, but not just older people, but younger people too - and that's mental health issues as well - are to the fore at the moment."We want to see much greater action from the county council and the services it provides."The Green Party is also in confident mood heading into the election. In 2023 it became the biggest party on Warwick District Council, taking control away from the Conservatives for the first time since 2007 after forming a joint administration with Labour. The experience of partnership working could be valuable for the Greens, particularly if the election ends with the council in no overall control – something that has happened four times since the modern version of the local authority was formed in candidate Nicki Scott said: "The Green Party is obviously about sustainability, everybody knows that. But, actually, it's about community and collaboration."I think we've got a really good track record of working with other parties when we need to and getting things done. But actually, also, challenging where required. We are not just the norm."
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tax up 5% as council warns on special needs costs
The financial future of Warwickshire County Council is "in serious question", officials have told councillors. Council bosses said the cost of supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) threatened its future "without a national solution". The comments came in a report to the Conservative-controlled authority ahead of a vote to pass its annual budget on Thursday. A council tax rise of 4.99% was voted through along with wide-ranging cuts to services as the authority worked to deliver £21.8m of reductions over the next financial year and £79.6m by 2030. The tax rise will mean an increase of about £86 a year for a typical band D property. However the exact amount people pay will change depending on rises agreed by their local district and borough councils as well as the county's fire and police services. The SEND funding shortfall is expected to reach £84.7m by April 2026 – equivalent to about 13% of the council's annual budget. Councils across the country are waiting for the government to announce support to tackle the costs in the spring Budget. The issue was addressed by council officers in a written statement to the authority which read: "Without a national solution, this council's financial sustainability is in serious question like the majority of upper-tier councils." Rob Powell, the council's executive director for resources, wrote: "This is Warwickshire County Council's largest financial risk and I cannot overstate the importance of an urgent, sustainable and just national resolution to a situation which is the direct result of national decisions." Conservative councillor Peter Butlin, in charge of the council's finances, said despite the struggles the council was "in a relatively good financial position". He pointed to the fact other councils, including neighbouring Birmingham, have this year been forced to get permission to increase their council tax above the cap of 5%. But he did hit out at the Labour government for the pace of change in dealing with SEND provision costs adding: "Privately, I'm not optimistic as to how this will be resolved." He said budget savings elsewhere would be delivered through better procurement, efficiency improvements, increased income to the council and reducing demand for services The Labour opposition leader, councillor Sarah Feeney, pointed out the Conservative Party had 14 years in government to address the funding shortfall in SEND provision. She said funding for the issue was "something that has been known about since 2020 as a huge crisis nationally and yet it was never resolved". In Thursday's meeting, the council also committed to spending £4.813m of its £217.3m of reserves to support services this financial year. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Warwickshire faces five years of council tax rises Bankrupt council denied new 9.99% tax rise Council pledges extra £16m for 'bridge to nowhere' Warwickshire County Council
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Warwickshire council tax up 5% as the council warns on special needs costs
The financial future of Warwickshire County Council is "in serious question", officials have told bosses said the cost of supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) threatened its future "without a national solution".The comments came in a report to the Conservative-controlled authority ahead of a vote to pass its annual budget on Thursday.A council tax rise of 4.99% was voted through along with wide-ranging cuts to services as the authority worked to deliver £21.8m of reductions over the next financial year and £79.6m by 2030. The tax rise will mean an increase of about £86 a year for a typical band D the exact amount people pay will change depending on rises agreed by their local district and borough councils as well as the county's fire and police SEND funding shortfall is expected to reach £84.7m by April 2026 – equivalent to about 13% of the council's annual budget. Councils across the country are waiting for the government to announce support to tackle the costs in the spring issue was addressed by council officers in a written statement to the authority which read: "Without a national solution, this council's financial sustainability is in serious question like the majority of upper-tier councils."Rob Powell, the council's executive director for resources, wrote: "This is Warwickshire County Council's largest financial risk and I cannot overstate the importance of an urgent, sustainable and just national resolution to a situation which is the direct result of national decisions."Conservative councillor Peter Butlin, in charge of the council's finances, said despite the struggles the council was "in a relatively good financial position".He pointed to the fact other councils, including neighbouring Birmingham, have this year been forced to get permission to increase their council tax above the cap of 5%. But he did hit out at the Labour government for the pace of change in dealing with SEND provision costs adding: "Privately, I'm not optimistic as to how this will be resolved."He said budget savings elsewhere would be delivered through better procurement, efficiency improvements, increased income to the council and reducing demand for servicesThe Labour opposition leader, councillor Sarah Feeney, pointed out the Conservative Party had 14 years in government to address the funding shortfall in SEND provision. She said funding for the issue was "something that has been known about since 2020 as a huge crisis nationally and yet it was never resolved".In Thursday's meeting, the council also committed to spending £4.813m of its £217.3m of reserves to support services this financial year. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
