Richmond takes fight against ‘reckless’ £102m funding cut to Whitehall

The fight to protect vital local services from the biggest percentage cut in core funding of any London borough has reached the government.

Richmond Council today joined Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea in formally submitting proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act, calling on ministers to rethink reforms that would strip £29 million a year from the borough by 2028/29 – around 58% of its core funding allocation.

The borough would lose £102 million over four years. 

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said: “These cuts are a direct assault on the services our residents rely on and punish Richmond for years of responsible financial management.

“Taking away nearly 60% of our core funding is reckless, unsustainable and risks pushing this council towards a financial cliff edge.

“We will not stand by while Whitehall forces our residents to pay the price for a deeply flawed formula. We are taking this fight directly to government and using every route available to demand a settlement that protects services and gives Richmond a fair deal.”

The formal submission follows Richmond’s borough-wide consultation, which asked residents to help shape the case to government and support three clear demands: a rethink of the proposed funding allocations, a longer transition period in line with previous funding reviews, and a greater share of locally generated income for councils.

More than 2,200 residents took part in the consultation, with over 95% supporting action under the Sustainable Communities Act - including more than 92% who strongly supported it.

Richmond has long campaigned against the reforms and recently warned that the changes could exhaust its financial reserves within the next few years, even if it fast-tracks £39 million of savings and transforms the way services are delivered.

Since 2018, the council has delivered savings of almost £60 million a year, while continuing to protect the services residents value. But it says cuts on this scale cannot be absorbed through efficiencies alone without serious consequences for local services and borough finances.

The Sustainable Communities Act gives councils a formal route to ask central government to remove policies or other barriers that prevent them from improving the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their communities.

The submission builds on Richmond’s continuing campaign against the funding cuts and its recent demand for ministers to rethink the reforms.