LETTER: Will our MPs finally stand up for the people of Hounslow?

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Sep 2006

Andrew Dakers is demanding Hounslow's Labour MPs Mr & Mrs Keen get the Treasury to review the Borough's population figures so we are not left short of £2-3 million/annum

As councillors enter this year's council budget discussions, one burning question hangs over us: will Hounslow finally be given a fair financial deal by central government? Contrary to popular myth central government funding supports more of our local services than revenue from council tax.

For several years Hounslow Council has disputed the population figures for Hounslow, which the Council believes are 5000 thousand greater than central government claims. Why does this matter? The net result is that our community is short changed by £2-3 million per annum. Just as an example, that could buy as many as 300,000 new books for the borough's school children.

Hounslow has a relatively transient population and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures, on which the government bases Hounslow's grants, are far too low. Instead the government must start factoring in the more reliable Greater London Authority projections, housing growth information and other key local data sources.

Will Ann Keen's special relationship with Gordon Brown as his Parliamentary Private Secretary finally count for something? Will Mrs Keen now make sure the Treasury give our community the fair deal it deserves?

There is no end of pressure on the Council's budgets and these additional funds would give Hounslow Council better prospects of improving local services. Now is the time for action Mr & Mrs Keen - for Hounslow.

Andrew Dakers

Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats