As part of the final Local Government Finance Settlement, Alicia Kearns MP has successfully campaigned to secure a 7.7% funding uplift for Leicestershire and Rutland County Councils.

Alongside Leicestershire MPs, Alicia has consistently called for increased Government funding for councils. Alicia spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on rural council funding, met with the Local Government Minister, released a report on Government funding with Onward and met with the Chancellor.

This real terms uplift is above the national average which councils across the country are set to receive.

The Local Government Finance Settlement is the annual determination of funding to local government. The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-5 makes available £64.7 billion for local government, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion.

The package includes the £600 million in extra support to bolster council budgets, including £500 million for social care, announced on 24 January.

Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton, said: "I have spent many hours lobbying the Government to secure the funding our councils deserve, so I am delighted to secure this uplift for Leicestershire and Rutland which is above the national average.

"This funding comes on top of the £23.7 million levelling up funding I worked to secure, in addition to funding for our councils from the Rural England Prosperity Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

"I am still campaigning for changes to the overall funding formula, but this funding boost is a significant step forward to recognise the financial pressures currently facing our councils, and support them to deliver the key services our communities rely on every day."

Leicestershire County Council Core Spending Power this year:

• £555.3 million, up 7.7% on last year. Of this, £76.1 million is grant funding for social care. This is an increase of 21.4% on last year.

Rutland County Council Core Spending Power this year:

• £44.3 million, up 7.7% on last year. Of this, £3.2 million is grant funding for social care. This is an increase of 26.2% on last year.

Core spending power measures the core revenue funding available for local authority services, including Council Tax and locally retained business rates.

Grant funding for social care includes total funding received from the Social Care Grant for both adults and children's social care, the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund, the Discharge Fund, and the Improved Better Care Fund.