An open letter to the Prime Minister from the Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council

The Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council has written an open letter to the Prime Minister outlining three key areas where Government action would make a significant difference to residents and communities.

Published on 12 August 2026, the letter states that Hartlepool Borough Council stands ready to work constructively with the new Government. The council says it is at the frontline of public service delivery and well placed to help develop practical solutions to issues facing families, businesses and neighbourhoods.

The Three Priorities

The council is asking the Government to prioritise action in three areas:

Establish fair and sustainable funding for local government. Accelerate and adequately fund the reform of adult and children's social care. Support council housebuilding while strengthening protections for communities affected by Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and out-of-area placements.

Local Government Funding

The council welcomed last year's Fair Funding Review but continues to have concerns about the final methodology agreed. Hartlepool Borough Council's position is that the Fair Funding Review funding methodology did not properly reflect deprivation, which has a significant impact on service demand and the costs of delivering vital services.

Additional funding provided to councils is increasingly being absorbed by rising costs, particularly in adult and children's social care. As a result, councils have less funding available for the services residents see and value every day.

The council is urging the Government to review the multi-year funding settlement to ensure it properly reflects deprivation and service demand, recognises differences in councils' ability to raise revenue locally, and ensures new responsibilities are matched with adequate funding.

Council Tax Reform

The Leader has also urged the Government to reform Council Tax. The current system is described as outdated and places areas with lower property values and higher levels of deprivation at a structural disadvantage. Hartlepool residents should not receive fewer services simply because they live in an area with a lower property tax base, the council states.

The council says it cannot continue to rely on annual Council Tax increases to balance budgets when many households are already struggling with the cost of living.

Services at Risk

Hartlepool Borough Council says it wants to invest in cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, libraries, youth services, leisure facilities, parks, events and community assets.