Quids in! Council to get £77.7m 'spending power' rise

But figure also assumes tax bills will increase by maximum allowed over the next three years

- Phil Corrigan

CASH-STRAPPED Stoke-on-Trent City Council's ‘spending power’ will rise by nearly £80 million by 2028, the Government has announced.

Local authorities have been told the funding they can expect to receive over the next three years.

The Labour-run city council will see a 25.1 per cent increase in its core spending power over this period compared to 2024/25.

Core spending power is meant to reflect the total amount of funding available for council services, including Government grants.

But £32.9 million of the £77.7 million increase will be from council tax rises, as the Government's calculation assumes authorities will approve the maximum increase each year.

As well as introducing multiyear settlements and a more streamlined funding system, the Labour Government says its ‘fairer’ settlement will divert funding towards more deprived areas.