Warwickshire County Council leader promises more funding for the county
Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch has promised more funding for the north of the county, following the approval of Reform UK’s first council plan.
The new plan includes commitments to invest more and provide greater support for towns in the north of the county, following a public consultation.
Finch, addressing councillors during a debate on the plan, told the BBC that Reform UK had been elected to “represent the people of the north.”
We have seen for years now that the north has been left behind and I think [Reform UK] are putting it first
George Finch, leader of Warwickshire County Council
He said: “One of the main things for a lot of our councillors is making sure there is fair treatment of the county. We have seen for years now that the north has been left behind and I think [Reform UK] are putting it first and making sure that we are working at putting more funding and support up in the north – especially in Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire in particular.”
He added: “What we have seen since being here [is an] imbalance and we want to make sure that the north has more support, as it does have the most deprived people in Warwickshire.”
Three amendments were put forward in response to Reform UK’s new plan, with only one submitted by the Conservatives being accepted. The amendment edited Finch’s introduction to include that “the administration will not be bound by the 2019 and 2025 declaration of climate emergencies”, asserting that the declarations are “no longer economically sustainable in the short term.”
The Green Party submitted an amendment calling for climate change to be reinstated in the plan, as well as a commitment to prioritise public transport options in line with the council’s existing policy.
The Liberal Democrats put forward an amendment requesting additional focus on special educational needs, adult social care, and children’s mental health, alongside greater scrutiny of Reform UK’s cost-cutting measures.
Both amendments have been voted down, and Reform UK’s council plan, including the Conservatives’ amendment, has passed by 31 votes to 24. Councillors belonging to the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Whitnash Residents all voted against.
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