Farron secures £760,016 for Cumbrian councils

Lakes MP Tim Farron has today secured over three quarters of a million pounds for councils throughout Cumbria.

In a letter from Brandon Lewis, MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to Tim, the minister agreed to hand over an unringfenced transitional grant to help Cumbrian local authorities with the highest levels of sparcity.

Tim noticed that the Department of Education funds rural schools under a formula of 3.5:1 whereas DCLG funds rural areas at 3:1. Tim then lobbied the Chancellor and asked him to fix this anomaly. The government have today agreed to do this.

This change will give councils a cash windfall. Councils will receive:

Cumbria County Council £594,653

Eden £67,421

South Lakeland £43,824

Allerdale £34,330

Carlisle £19,791

This is one of only three formula changes in the 2013-14 settlement from the government.

Tim said: "As soon as I noticed the anomaly, I spoke to government officials and ministers and pushed them to look at the formula again. Today's announcement and the new funds announced are great news for councils and residents.

"I hope that councils now use this money to keep bus services running and vital facilities open."