Blackpool Council plays down clash with resort’s Labour MP

Blackpool Council has played down a clash with the resort’s MP Chris Webb – a fellow Labour politician – over a financial settlement from the Government and the new council tax bill.

It follows the council’s bitter disappointment with the financial settlement handed out by the Government, which gave Blackpool less than hoped for towards its budget.

Mr Webb then stated that he had acquired some extra funds from the Government – £12million – and that he had asked the council to use the funds to reduce the 2026/7 council tax bill.

However, the council ended up putting the council tax up by 4.9 percent as it faced a challenging budget.

This was was then picked up by Cllr Paul Galley, the leader of the council’s Conservative opposition, who drew attention to it in last week’s budget meeting.

And it drew an exasperated response in the meeting from Deputy Leader of the Council Neal Brookes, who expressed his frustration with  the situation.

Cllr Brookes said: “At the swish of a pen from some civil servant in the south of the country we’ve lost a fortune.

Describing the Government settlement as “an absolute disgrace”, he added: “No matter how many top fans we have got of Chris Webb, I’m not going to defend the fact he’s come riding over the hill on his white charger with his £12 million quid because of other people put in to that”.

Cllr Galley said Mr Webb’s own statements confirmed he had fought for and obtained extra government funding specifically to enable Blackpool to reduce Council Tax and made it clear to the Council leadership that these funds should be used for that purpose.

Said Cllr Galley: “ Yet Blackpool Council has done the exact opposite by implementing a Council Tax increase.

“This raises unavoidable questions. Does Blackpool’s Labour MP hold no influence with the Council leadership? Why was his stated position publicly advocating for the use of additional funding to reduce Council Tax apparently ignored? “

However, Blackpool Council Leader, Cllr Lynn Williams, was quick to play down any fall-out with the MP, saying the help he had given was welcome at a financially challenging time.

Cllr Williams said: “While it is far from a magic bullet, this final settlement is a better position that we were in earlier in the year and I would like to sincerely thank both our MPs Lorraine Beevers and Chris Webb who have taken up our challenge to them to raise this with the top level of government and come back with a fairer funding settlement.

“I know everybody in Blackpool is committed to the same goal, to make sure our hometown is properly supported so we can create a town where our young people can thrive, our families are supported and we can all be proud of.”

She added: “I know everybody wants cheaper council tax bills – so do I. Cheaper council tax bills would mean we are properly and sustainably funded by government but that still isn’t the case following 16 years of cuts so it’s just not possible yet.

“ I would remind people that our average council tax base is one of the lowest in the country, because 74% of homes are Bands A or B, while over 30,000 homes already get a reduction of some form, whether it is because they are vulnerable, on a low income, are carers or live alone. If you think you are eligible for a discount, please get in touch.”

Mr Webb was approached for a comment.