Portsmouth City Council leader outlines budget demands

AHEAD of the budget, the city’s council leader has written to the chancellor outlining his financial requirements for the city.
By Neil Fatkin
Published 10th Mar 2020, 12:10 BST
Updated 10th Mar 2020, 12:10 BST
Portsmouth City Council leader, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, has written to the chancellor outlining his spending requirements for the city. Picture: Habibur RahmanPortsmouth City Council leader, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, has written to the chancellor outlining his spending requirements for the city. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Portsmouth City Council leader, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, has written to the chancellor outlining his spending requirements for the city. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson has identified six key areas he hopes are addressed which will benefit Portsmouth.

Top of his list was spending on public services. Cllr Vernon-Jackson was particularly concerned about funding for schools and the police.

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He stated: ‘When I talk to headteachers they tell me they are having to cut spending because of a lack of Government funding.

‘We have had promises of an extra 200 police officers on the streets of Portsmouth. Please do make sure that there is funding to ensure these police officers can be recruited.’

The council also said that it received £5.4million from the Government for Social Services – just over half of what they had to invest. Other areas of concern in the letter were levels of air pollution, sea defences and additional funding for the Royal Navy.

Related topics:Portsmouth City CouncilPortsmouthGovernmentRoyal Navy

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