North Shropshire MP urging the Government for support amid council overspend
The council are experiencing an overspend of nearly £64 million this financial year and could face a Section 114 Notice
Shropshire Council is facing a severe financial crisis, described by the local MP as “incredibly serious.”
The council’s challenges have been driven by escalating adult social care costs, failure to achieve planned savings, and a history of underfunding rural areas. Over the past two years, £90 million in cuts have already been made.
The new Liberal Democrat administration, elected in May, inherited a budget heavily reliant on reserves without adequate savings plans. A subsequent financial review revealed further overspends.
Since taking office, councillors have implemented emergency cost-cutting measures, but the MP warns these efforts will not be sufficient without central government support.
North Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan said:
"We want the Government to support us this year so that democratically elected councillors can turn this around."
The MP is calling for urgent government intervention, including short-term funding to avoid the issuance of a Section 114 Notice—a declaration of financial insolvency that would halt non-essential spending and could place commissioners in control of decision-making. Without such support, frontline services may face severe cuts.
The MP also highlighted the removal of the Rural Services Delivery Grant as a significant factor exacerbating the council’s financial strain, emphasizing the higher costs of service delivery in rural areas. She has requested an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State to agree on a multi-year financial support package aimed at stabilizing the council’s finances and ensuring continued provision of vital services.