Conservatives welcome extra funding but urge Council to start using reserves
Councillor Robert Oliver said,
“Today’s announcement of more funding for Sunderland Council is good news with the funds available to spend how the council wishes as they are not ringfenced.
The council also has £11million in its general reserve which is meant to be for unexpected emergencies so it needs to start using them for the benefit of residents.
Sunderland’s general reserves have increased from £5million in 2010 even though the council is smaller and it currently holds a million more than Newcastle.
Given the circumstances, it would be reasonable for the council to use some of the general reserves now to support spending during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Residents may wonder why political leaders are always asking the government for more money but are unwilling to take even a penny out of their own emergency cash.”
