ATTEMPTS are being made to secure cash-strapped Bromsgrove Council more Government funding, writes Melina Cannon.

The move follows the shock news that the council will experience a £1 million shortfall when it receives only £22,000 more spending money than last year.

The shortfall, say councillors, is due to the council, which encompasses villages such as Alvechurch, Wythall and Beoley, being forced to carry out costly schemes without vital funding.

District councillor Jean Luck said treasurer Andrew Fisher had been liasing with the Department of Environment, Transport and Roads (DETR) to determine why the council had received such a small rate support grant.

She also said there were plans to form a group of representatives interested in meeting with a minister to discuss the situation, if it could be arranged.

Mr Fisher said: "I have approached the DETR to possibly go down to London and explain our position and to have some correspondence to try and increase funding in future years.

"The assessment is based on factors including age profiles and population outflow and inflow. It has been suggested that the reason for the disappointing amount of funding is because, relatively speaking, Bromsgrove is a reasonably wealthy area."

Mrs Luck said: "We are in dire financial straits. Redditch has had £136,000 more than last year and Worcester City £203,000.

"Surrounding councils have similar commitments but so much more money. Mrs Luck also said some of the council's commitments include the Local Plan Inquiry which will cost at least £170,000 and the setting up of an Air Quality Management Area which will be about another £80,000.

"There are some very good schemes but what do we do when there is no money to fund them?" she added.