This month, following the budget setting of local authorities across the country, I thought it important to shine a light on Barking and Dagenham.
Councils have faced over a decade in cuts to funding, with outer London taking the brunt of this with an average of 50% less funding for services than they had in 2010.
As a councillor and now as the Member of Parliament I have always beaten the drum for a fair funding formula that takes into account the deprivation scale, population growth and other factors.
Now, under a Labour government, the multi-year local government finance settlement has begun the work of rebalancing the scales.
The fair funding review means that for the first time in 15 years Barking and Dagenham has breathing space and does not need to cut services that impact the lives of local people.
Finally, with a significant increase in core spending, Barking and Dagenham Council can begin to reinvest and focus on renewal and growth over a managed decline at the hands of a Tory government.
So, a good start has been made by the Government in putting right funding for councils, but to ensure cuts do not have to be made in desperately needed services, council tax has been increased in Barking and Dagenham as is the case across England with councils under the control of all political parties taking the same decision.
This brings me onto the Pride in Place funding.
Since being elected, I've been fighting hard in Parliament for Dagenham & Rainham. Now, that work is paying off.
Last month we secured £20 million of long-term funding for the Heath ward area, focused on Central Park and Frizlands Lane, through Labour's Pride in Place programme – that is £2 million every year for the next decade.
This is a special round of funding, targeted at places like ours where strengthening community ties and social connection matters most.
The funding could support a wide range of local priorities – from celebrating local people through neighbourhood events, improving shared spaces, bringing empty buildings back into use, to helping strengthen the local high street.
Most importantly, it will be up to people here in our community to help shape how it’s used.
I can assure you I will carry on fighting to increase funding for Barking and Dagenham to improve services for and the well being of local people.
This is the difference a Labour Government makes.
- Margaret Mullane is Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham.
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