menu
menu
I have written to the Chancellor, John Healey, ahead of the 2026 budget to ask him to seriously consider the request from Bristol City Council to increase their core funding by at least £80 per person. This would go part of the way to making up the £122 per person shortfall Bristol faces when compared to the average Core Funding received by other large cities in England. This change would make a huge difference to funding for essential local services in Bristol.
CD letter 13 OctoberThe full text of the letter reads:
Dear John Healey MP
Re: Funding Bristol’s essential local services
This month I met with staff and councillors at Bristol City Council to discuss the funding of
essential local services. Bristol City Council is at present struggling to resource many essential
services because of the lack of funding they receive from central government.
There is a £122 per person gap in average Core Spending Power between Bristol and the Core
Cities average, highlighting a significant disparity in the funding available to support residents
and deliver local services compared to other Core Cities such as Manchester.
In my role as Member of Parliament for Bristol Central I hear from thousands of constituents
relaying their distressing experiences of underfunded services affecting their quality of life.
Your government’s Local Government Finance Settlement increases dependence on Council
Tax and locally retained Business Rates, placing the burden on residents of Bristol already
struggling with the tightening of belts in the cost of living crisis. The buck cannot stop with the
working people and businesses of Bristol Central.
I understand Bristol City Council has asked your government to increase Bristol’s core funding
by at least £80 per resident to begin to help us catch up with the provisions of other Core Cities.
I implore you to listen. Growth in every postcode will only be possible if your government takes
action and pitches in.
Yours sincerely,
Carla Denyer MP
Member of Parliament for Bristol Central