| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:H&F get it right - why can't Hounslow folllow | |
| Posted by: | Guy Lambert | |
| Date/Time: | 08/09/23 15:06:00 |
| The old story about "Chiswick should be part of Hammersmith" has been floating around on this forum when I first posted here - nearly 20 years ago I think! Council borders are set by the government and are (I believe) based on a theory that they should be roughly the same size, though outer boroughs have more area. Whatever, they haven't changed since I think 1964 so I wouldn't recommend holding your breath. Of course. there are arguments for a different arrangement but I'd say there is little demand for it - never seen it mentioned except here about one every 6 months - and changing would be very expensive. I don't know why Hounslow's grant has been more hit than others I'm no expert and a lot of this happened many years ago - it has to do with government assessment of needs and they tend to believe (when it's a Conservative 'government') that cities, particularly relative poor areas like Hounslow have less need than prosperous shires. Don't forget we had George Osborne starting austerity, largely focused on local authorities and more recently we have levelling down is the B Johnson mantra. And city councils, especially in London, have a high probability to not be Conservative! Katherine's argument that we shouldn't worry about the streets is a bit akin to the argument we shouldn't worry about global warming because other countries are worse. Paul's analysis may be connected to this link https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2010/13/ (See Isleworth result) |