Cllr Diarmaid Ward

AS politicians gear up for another round of “making efficiencies” in order to balance the books for this year’s budget, they once again pointed their finger in one direction: Westminster.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward, the town hall’s finance chief, rounded on the government as he presented his budget – due to be signed off next month – after being forced to make £10.8m worth of savings. In total, since the Conservatives came to power 13 years ago, Islington has seen just under £300m cut from their central funding, he claimed.

He said: “The government isn’t funding us properly. They’re not taking into account inflation, soaring costs and high demand for services. This kind of underfunding cannot continue without an impact on our frontline services. We urge the government to reverse those cuts to Islington funding and to increase the government funding in real terms.”

Six local councils have declared bankruptcy since 2021, including Birmingham and Croydon, while polling by the New Statesman magazine in November revealed a quarter of councillors believe their council will soon go bankrupt.

While no one is talking about bank­ruptcy in Islington, there will be a range of cuts and a rise in council tax from £151 a month to £157.

It will also introduce a £75 annual fee for people with garden waste, and looks to make savings around the transport of children with special educational needs and rooms for those in care homes. Islington plans to repurpose its unused office space by renting it out to businesses or for council homes. Unoccupied caretaker homes attached to schools will be offered to foster carers.

Cllr Ward also called for “a complete overhaul on the funding system” of Adult Social Care from government, which he described as at a “complete crisis point” nationally. In Islington the budget for social care is increasing by an “unsustainable” £20m this year, rising to £164m.