What the budget means for Bucks

Posted on

Callum Anderson, MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, Laura Kyrke-Smith, MP for Aylesbury and I wrote to Cllr Martin Tett (Leader of Bucks Council) to share our thoughts on the Budget and what it means for Buckinghamshire Council.

The Gateway
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
HP19 8FF

5 November 2024


Dear Cllr Tett,

Last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced measures from Labour’s first Budget in 14
years, which have been welcomed by the Local Government Association as a “step in the right
direction” and will generate positive impacts for Buckinghamshire.

Some of the measures announced include:

  • A £1bn uplift in SEND and alternative provision funding.
  • Increasing core spending for councils by 3.2% in 2025/6, including £1.3bn new grant
    funding, with at least £600m for social care funding.
  • Extending the household support fund and discretionary housing payments with an
    additional £1bn in funding to 2025-26.
  • £500m to tackle the issue of potholes in Buckinghamshire and across the UK.
  • Continuing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for a further year, providing £900m to allow
    local authorities to invest in local growth.

In our manifesto, Labour promised to give councils greater stability, and we are delivering on this
promise.

In particular, the Budget marked an important step in realising the Government’s ambition to
reform the system that underpins SEND provision. We have been listening to constituents across
Buckinghamshire and the whole country and have recognised that more needs to be done to give
every pupil the education they deserve.

There is more to come from The Treasury. Local government funding will be a priority of Phase 2
of the Spending Review, which is expected to be completed in spring 2025.

We are looking forward to working with you to fix public services, deliver economic growth and
restore fiscal responsibility. Please do let us know if you would like to meet and discuss what the
Budget means for Buckinghamshire Council and the services it provides.

Kind regards,
Callum Anderson MP, Laura Kyrke-Smith MP, and Emma Reynolds MP