Cllr Martin Hill (Con), Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, has appeared on Radio 4’s Six O’Clock news in order to criticise the Conservative government’s continued council funding cuts. He has joined other Council leaders in warning that, by 2020, Councils will only be able to provide the bare minimum statuatory services.
Cllr Hill (who was introduced as Cllr Wall) stated:
“All those other things which aren’t a legal duty will actually have to go by the wayside. And I have to say if the government doesn’t actually give us additional resources in a few years time, I’m not confident as a council leader that we will be operating in a safe manner for the public of this county.”
The County Councils’ Network has warned that England’s largest councils are poised to set out almost £1bn in new reductions to budgets next February – with residents facing another round of ‘unpalatable’ cuts to services – unless government intervenes.
In its response to a government consultation on funding for councils next year, the County Councils Network (CCN) warns that its councils will set out £685m in savings next February to balance their budgets.
In addition, those county authorities say another £233m of ‘unplanned’ frontline service cuts will be needed – which have yet to be identified – unless government provides these councils with new funding next year.
In my opinion, the County Council is part of the problem. It is remote, expensive and monolithic. It should be abolished and replaced by smaller unitary authorities. I also think the Government should recognise and support the vital role of local councils in delivering front-line services.
DeepingDo - The blog of Ashley Baxter, Independent Councillor and founder member of the Deepings Rebel Alliance! 
Martin Hill is also part of the problem. He voted for a Conservative Government that promised to cut funding, so he should have been aware of what was coming.
He has only now started campaigning for Fairer Funding for Lincolnshire, when its been obvious fior years that funding was inadequate, and indeed Cllr Davies has admitted that Lincolnshire County Council has under funded road maintainance for over a decade now.
And worse still Martin Hill will yet again campaign for and vote Conservative in May elections next year, and at the next General Election.
Isnt it hypocritical to criticise the Conservative Government, and the Conservative Party that he is a member of, whilst actively voting for more of the same.
Or does he not understand.