Council Leader Visits Government Minister

Leicester has lost out by £4 million after population figures were incorrectly calculated by the Government.

The Government predicted Leicester's population would fall by 2,000 in 2005 - but instead it went up with an increase of approx 5,000.

Lib Dem council leader Roger Blackmore has visited Local Government Minister Ruth Kelly to explain the position and asked for a change in the way money is handed out. He told local press; "The Government based its population projections for our finance settlement on the basis that our population was declining. We now have conclusive evidence that there was actually an increase. To give us a financial settlement assuming our population is going down is most unfair."

The Council leader is asking the Government to ditch the use of population projections in the funding formula. He is also asking for a special grant funding this year and next year to avoid pressures on council tax.