THE Government’s £49.1 billion “spending boost” for councils in England will make “very little difference” to Hampshire County Council’s “medium term budget position”.

According to Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick, the new settlement represents an increase of almost £3 billion in “core spending power” for councils, “the biggest real-terms increase for a decade”, as well as an extra £1.5 billion for underfunded social care.

However, Hampshire County Council leader, Councillor Keith Mans told the Herald the announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed the figures the council had been given in September and does not go far enough to plug the gap.

“While the announcement is positive, it has made very little difference to our overall medium term budget position,” he said.

“However, I acknowledge that in the short term, this will provide some much needed support to meet the increasing demand pressures in social care services for next year.

“Long term, we will need to receive the right level of funding from Government, on an ongoing and consistent basis if we are to remain one of the strongest local authorities in the country.

“We’ve been constantly clear with Government that they need to be fairer in their funding of local councils.

“For decades, councils in shire counties have been left behind those in major cities and urban areas – receiving up to 60 per cent less funding.

“We will continue to make representations to Government to inform its three-year spending review which is due to take place in 2020.”

The Local Government Secretary said the department is “committed to unleashing the huge potential of this country”, and to achieve that it is “giving communities the funding that they need to thrive, support the most vulnerable in our society and also protect the vital services that we all rely on”.

An East Hampshire District Council spokesman said it is difficult to know at this stage just how much money authorities will receive.

The Government has also committed £907 million to continue the New Homes Bonus scheme in 2020-21.

The scheme financially rewards authorities for the number of new houses they build, incentivising housing growth and creating homes for local residents.