Agenda item

Motion 1

 

It was moved by Cllr Ted Strike and seconded by Cllr Tony Riordan and

 

RESOLVED That

 

“Council notes that:

 

Adult Social Care is a national statutory responsibility placed upon local authorities by Parliament, yet the current funding framework depends heavily on locally raised council tax, including the Adult Social Care precept. Because council tax bases vary significantly across England, residents in areas with lower property values are required to contribute proportionally more to raise the equivalent level of Adult Social Care funding as those in areas with stronger tax bases. This creates a structural and systemic inequity in the financing of what is, by law, a national service. Council further notes that, despite repeated commitments from successive governments to reform Adult Social Care funding, the present arrangements remain unchanged.

 

Council further notes that:

 

The continued reliance on local taxation to fund a national statutory service is both unsustainable and unfair. The responsibility for addressing this inequity, and for establishing a fair and resilient national funding model for Adult Social Care, rests squarely with Central Government.

 

Council therefore resolves:

 

(1)  That the Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer

 

(a)  seeking an immediate and definitive timetable for the introduction of a replacement national funding model for Adult Social Care; and

 

(b)  calling upon the Government to introduce, without delay, an interim national equalisation mechanism for the Adult Social Care element of council tax, such that residents in equivalent council tax bands contribute on a consistent basis across England regardless of variations in local tax base.

 

(2)  That the communication make clear that this Council considers the current funding model inequitable and in urgent need of reform.

 

(3)  That any response received from the Chancellor of the Exchequer be reported to Full Council at the earliest available meeting.”

 

Motion 2

 

It was moved by Councillor Niall Innes and seconded by Councillor Tony Riordan:

 

“This Council notes:

 

(1)   That the Labour Government’s approach to public service funding, including the so-called “Fair Funding” arrangements and recent national settlements, has failed to deliver genuinely fair or needs-based funding for policing, fire and rescue services, or local government in areas such as Cleveland.

 

(2)  That Cleveland Police has publicly and repeatedly warned that current Government funding settlements are inadequate, unfair, and unsustainable, resulting in a projected funding shortfall of around £2.4 million, equivalent to approximately 40 frontline police officers, despite continued high levels of crime, vulnerability, and demand. Between 2024 2025, national police forces have seen a net decrease of 2,195 officers.

 

(3)  That Cleveland Police received the lowest percentage funding increase nationally, a settlement which its Labour Police and Crime Commissioner has described as deeply unfair and disconnected from operational reality, placing frontline policing at risk.

 

(4)  That since Labour came to power in 2024, police forces nationally have faced ongoing real-terms funding pressure, with forces such as Cleveland being forced to plan for reductions in officer numbers, fewer specialist roles, and reduced neighbourhood policing capacity, not because demand has fallen, but because Government funding has failed to keep pace with costs.

 

(5)  That Cleveland Fire Brigade remains one of the most financially constrained fire services in the country, with a structural funding gap projected at around £1.77 million, even after proposed council tax precept increases.

 

(6)  That Cleveland Fire Brigade has made clear that continued under-funding places frontline resilience at risk, forcing difficult decisions on staffing, appliances, and service delivery, and transferring the burden of national funding failures onto local residents.

 

(7)  That Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has itself been negatively impacted by the Government’s funding framework, including:

 

·         A worsening financial position driving poor fiscal planning.

 

·         Missing out entirely on any share of the additional £740 million announced in the Final Local Government Finance Settlement, despite significant local need.

 

·         Being excluded from multiple support grants purely because of headline Core Spending Power calculations that mask real-world pressures.

 

This Council believes:

 

(1)  That the Government’s “Fair Funding” approach is neither fair nor reflective of need and systematically disadvantages areas such as Stockton-on-Tees and the wider Cleveland area.

 

(2)  That current under-funding of police and fire services directly undermines public safety, increases risk to residents, and erodes confidence in essential public services.

 

(3)  That the Government’s reliance on council tax precepts to prop up police and fire funding is regressive, unfairly shifting responsibility from the Exchequer to local households, many of whom are already under severe cost-of-living pressure.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(1)  That the Council write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressing this Council’s deep concern and strong opposition to the impact of the Labour Government’s funding policies on Police and Fire Services, particularly the consequences of the current Fair Funding approach.

 

(2)  That the correspondence explicitly highlights:

 

·         The severe and disproportionate impact of funding shortfalls on Cleveland Police, including the real risk of losing frontline officers and reduced community policing in Stockton-on-Tees.

 

·         The ongoing financial fragility of Cleveland Fire Brigade, and the unacceptable risks this creates for emergency response and public safety.

 

·         The failure of national funding decisions to recognise the needs of Stockton-on-Tees and the wider Cleveland area, despite unambiguous evidence of demand and need.

 

(3)  That the Council calls on the Chancellor to urgently review and reform current funding arrangements, to:

 

·         Deliver genuinely fair, needs-based funding for Police and Fire Services

 

·         Provide immediate redress for Forces and Brigades facing funding-driven reductions.

 

·         Ensure areas such as Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade services are no longer penalised by flawed funding formulas.

 

(4)  That the letter be issued on behalf of the Council by the Chief Executive.”

 

Councillor Paul Rowling moved and Councillor Norma Stephenson seconded the following amendment:

 

“This Council notes:

 

(1)  Recent national settlements, have failed to deliver genuinely fair or needs-based funding for policing, fire and rescue services, or local government in areas such as Cleveland.

 

(2)  That Cleveland Police has publicly and repeatedly warned that current Government funding settlements are inadequate, unfair, and unsustainable, resulting in a projected funding shortfall of around £2.4 million, equivalent to approximately 40 frontline police officers, despite continued high levels of crime, vulnerability, and demand.

 

(3)  That Cleveland Police received the lowest percentage funding increase nationally, a settlement which its Labour Police and Crime Commissioner has described as deeply unfair and disconnected from operational reality, placing frontline policing at risk.

 

(4)  Since 2010, police forces nationally have faced ongoing real-terms funding pressure, with forces such as Cleveland being forced to plan for reductions in officer numbers, fewer specialist roles, and reduced neighbourhood policing capacity, not because demand has fallen, but because Government funding has failed to keep pace with costs.

 

(5)  That Cleveland Fire Brigade remains one of the most financially constrained fire services in the country, with a structural funding gap projected at around £1.77 million, even after agreed council tax precept increases.

 

(6)  That Cleveland Fire Brigade has made clear that continued under-funding places frontline resilience at risk, forcing difficult decisions on staffing, appliances, and service delivery, and transferring the burden of national funding failures onto local residents.

 

(7)  That Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has itself been impacted by the Government’s funding framework, including:

 

·         Increases in funding not keeping up with service demand.

 

·         Missing out entirely on any share of the additional £740 million announced in the Final Local Government Finance Settlement, despite significant local need.

 

·         Being excluded from multiple support grants purely because of headline Core Spending Power calculations that mask real-world pressures.

 

This Council believes:

 

(1)  That the funding approach seen over the last decade and the first-year allocation under “Fair Funding” is neither fair nor reflective of need and systematically disadvantages areas such as Stockton-on-Tees and the wider Cleveland area.

 

(2)  That current under-funding of police and fire services directly undermines public safety, increases risk to residents, and erodes confidence in essential public services.

 

(3)  That the Government’s reliance on council tax precepts to prop up police and fire funding is regressive, unfairly shifting responsibility from the Exchequer to local households, many of whom are already under severe cost-of-living pressure.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(1)  That the Council write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressing this Council’s deep concern and strong opposition to the impact of funding policies since 2010 on Police and Fire Services.

 

(2)  That the correspondence explicitly highlights:

 

·         The severe and disproportionate impact of funding shortfalls on Cleveland Police, including the real risk of losing frontline officers and reduced community policing in Stockton-on-Tees.

 

·         The ongoing financial fragility of Cleveland Fire Brigade, and the potential risks this creates for emergency response and public safety.

 

·         The failure of national funding decisions to recognise the needs of Stockton-on-Tees and the wider Cleveland area, despite unambiguous evidence of demand and need.

 

(3)  That the Council calls on the Chancellor to urgently review and reform current funding arrangements, to:

 

·         Deliver genuinely fair, needs-based funding for Police and Fire Services

 

·         Provide immediate redress for Forces and Brigades facing funding-driven reductions.

 

·         Ensure areas such as Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade services are no longer penalised by flawed funding formulas.

 

(4)  That the letter be issued on behalf of the Council by the Chief Executive.”

 

 

Following debate and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.65, it was requested that a recorded vote be taken on the amendment, which was supported by at least a quarter of the Members present.

 

Members in favour of the amendment:

 

Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Michelle Bendelow, Cllr Clare Besford, Cllr Marc Besford, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Bob Cook, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Richard Eglington, Cllr Lisa Evans, Cllr Nathan Gale, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Steve Nelson, Cllr Ross Patterson, Cllr Paul Rowling, Cllr Norma Stephenson OBE, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Ted Strike, Cllr Marilyn Surtees, Cllr Katie Weston, Cllr Paul Weston and Cllr Barry Woodhouse.

 

Members against the amendment:

 

Cllr Diane Clarke OBE, Cllr John Coulson, Cllr Stephen Dodds, Cllr Dan Fagan, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr Elsi Hampton, Cllr Stefan Houghton, Cllr Shakeel Hussain, Cllr Niall Innes, Cllr Mohammed Mazi, Cllr Jack Miller, Cllr Sufi Mubeen, Cllr David Reynard, Cllr Stephen Richardson, Cllr Tony Riordan, Cllr Vanessa Sewell, Cllr Andrew Sherris, Cllr Hugo Stratton, Cllr Emily Tate, Cllr Jim Taylor, Cllr Hilary Vickers and Cllr Marcus Vickers, Cllr Alan Watson and Cllr Sally Ann Watson.

 

Abstained:

 

Cllr Stefan Barnes, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr Mick Moore and Cllr Sylvia Walmsely.

 

24 for the amendment

 

25 against the amendment

 

5 abstained

 

The amendment was declared not carried.

 

Following debate and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.65, it was requested that a recorded vote be taken on the substantive motion, which was supported by at least a quarter of the Members present.

 

Members in favour of the motion:

 

Cllr Stefan Barnes, Cllr Diane Clarke OBE, Cllr John Coulson, Cllr Stephen Dodds, Cllr Dan Fagan, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr Elsi Hampton, Cllr Stefan Houghton, Cllr Shakeel Hussain, Cllr Niall Innes, Cllr Mohammed Mazi, Cllr Jack Miller, Cllr Sufi Mubeen, Cllr David Reynard, Cllr Stephen Richardson, Cllr Tony Riordan, Cllr Vanessa Sewell, Cllr Andrew Sherris, Cllr Hugo Stratton, Cllr Ted Strike, Cllr Emily Tate, Cllr Jim Taylor, Cllr Hilary Vickers and Cllr Marcus Vickers, Cllr Sylvia Walmsley, Cllr Alan Watson and Cllr Sally Ann Watson.

 

Members against the motion:

 

Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Michelle Bendelow, Cllr Clare Besford, Cllr Marc Besford, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Bob Cook, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Richard Eglington, Cllr Lisa Evans, Cllr Nathan Gale, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Steve Nelson, Cllr Paul Rowling, Cllr Norma Stephenson OBE, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Marilyn Surtees, Cllr Katie Weston, Cllr Paul Weston and Cllr Barry Woodhouse.

 

Abstained:

 

Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Cllr Mick Moore and Cllr Ross Patterson.

 

29 for the motion

 

22 against the motion

 

3 abstained

 

The motion was declared carried and it was

 

RESOLVED

 

“This Council notes:

 

(1)  That the Labour Government’s approach to public service funding, including the so-called “Fair Funding” arrangements and recent national settlements, has failed to deliver genuinely fair or needs-based funding for policing, fire and rescue services, or local government in areas such as Cleveland.

 

(2)  That Cleveland Police has publicly and repeatedly warned that current Government funding settlements are inadequate, unfair, and unsustainable, resulting in a projected funding shortfall of around £2.4 million, equivalent to approximately 40 frontline police officers, despite continued high levels of crime, vulnerability, and demand. Between 2024 2025, national police forces have seen a net decrease of 2,195 officers.

 

(3)  That Cleveland Police received the lowest percentage funding increase nationally, a settlement which its Labour Police and Crime Commissioner has described as deeply unfair and disconnected from operational reality, placing frontline policing at risk.

 

(4)  That since Labour came to power in 2024, police forces nationally have faced ongoing real-terms funding pressure, with forces such as Cleveland being forced to plan for reductions in officer numbers, fewer specialist roles, and reduced neighbourhood policing capacity, not because demand has fallen, but because Government funding has failed to keep pace with costs.

 

(5)  That Cleveland Fire Brigade remains one of the most financially constrained fire services in the country, with a structural funding gap projected at around £1.77 million, even after proposed council tax precept increases.

 

(6)  That Cleveland Fire Brigade has made clear that continued under-funding places frontline resilience at risk, forcing difficult decisions on staffing, appliances, and service delivery, and transferring the burden of national funding failures onto local residents.

 

(7)  That Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has itself been negatively impacted by the Government’s funding framework, including:

 

·         A worsening financial position driving poor fiscal planning.

 

·         Missing out entirely on any share of the additional £740 million announced in the Final Local Government Finance Settlement, despite significant local need.

 

·         Being excluded from multiple support grants purely because of headline Core Spending Power calculations that mask real-world pressures.

 

This Council believes:

 

(1)  That the Government’s “Fair Funding” approach is neither fair nor reflective of need and systematically disadvantages areas such as Stockton-on-Tees and the wider Cleveland area.

 

(2)  That current under-funding of police and fire services directly undermines public safety, increases risk to residents, and erodes confidence in essential public services.

 

(3)  That the Government’s reliance on council tax precepts to prop up police and fire funding is regressive, unfairly shifting responsibility from the Exchequer to local households, many of whom are already under severe cost-of-living pressure.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(1)  That the Council write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressing this Council’s deep concern and strong opposition to the impact of the Labour Government’s funding policies on Police and Fire Services, particularly the consequences of the current Fair Funding approach.

 

(2)  That the correspondence explicitly highlights:

 

·         The severe and disproportionate impact of funding shortfalls on Cleveland Police, including the real risk of losing frontline officers and reduced community policing in Stockton-on-Tees.

 

·         The ongoing financial fragility of Cleveland Fire Brigade, and the unacceptable risks this creates for emergency response and public safety.

 

·         The failure of national funding decisions to recognise the needs of Stockton-on-Tees and the wider Cleveland area, despite unambiguous evidence of demand and need.

 

(3)  That the Council calls on the Chancellor to urgently review and reform current funding arrangements, to:

 

·         Deliver genuinely fair, needs-based funding for Police and Fire Services

 

·         Provide immediate redress for Forces and Brigades facing funding-driven reductions.

 

·         Ensure areas such as Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade services are no longer penalised by flawed funding formulas.

 

(4)  That the letter be issued on behalf of the Council by the Chief Executive.”