In Conversation With Eric Smith - Episode 1: Shaun Davies
The leader of Telford & Wrekin Council has indicated that council tax will "have to go up" in the borough for the first time in two years, following this week's Autumn Statement.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt MP, gave his Autumn Statement on Wednesday where he outlined plans to cut National Insurance and increase business expenses.
However, councillor Shaun Davies, described the statement as "bitterly disappointing", due to the lack of funding allocated to local councils.
The council leader had written to Jeremy Hunt last week, urging the Chancellor to recognise the impact of inflation, the soaring costs of providing vital social care and "protect and invest in the fabric of British life".
But following the Autumn Statement, he said: "We have seen no further investment for the services that matter most in our communities; protecting our most vulnerable adults and children, supporting economic growth or keeping our places clean and green. This is a huge missed opportunity.
"For our national economy to grow, we need our local areas to grow, and councils are also key to this."
And the Labour council leader has now said that the lack of investment for local government meant council tax in Telford & Wrekin would likely rise next year.
Telford & Wrekin Council voted to freeze council tax in the borough in 2022, but Councillor Davies told BBC Radio Shropshire that the tax would now "have to go up".
He said: We thought today we would have investment from government, we thought today that they would intervene, we thought today they would back local government. They haven't don't that.
"Council Tax will have to go up and services will be reduced because the money that councils can raise through council tax is no longer enough to plug the gap in financial services that means people are paying more and getting less," he said.
But he added that "The devil is always in the detail"
His comments on the autumn statement come after Shaun Davies, who is to challenge for the Telford seat at the next general election for the Labour Party, gave an in-depth interview with the Shropshire Star.
Taking to the Shropshire Star's latest podcast series, hosted by Eric Smith, the former breakfast show host on BBC Radio Shropshire, Councillor Davies has spoken of running the authority.
He also speaks of the challenges facing Telford including pressure on the police, plans to move A&E from Telford, and his hopes for the town and borough's future.
You can listen to Eric Smith's exclusive interview with Shaun Davies below.
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