LIBERAL Democrat MP Richard Foord has called for the Government to properly fund local councils, after it was reported that Devon County Council was using money allocated for improving broadband to cover a budget deficit.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Foord, who represents Culm Valley parishes, pressed Communities Secretary Michael Gove on the funding given to local councils.

Mr Foord highlighted how the situation in Devon was so poor the county council was having to put its ‘hand down the back of the sofa’.

The news came in the wake of a cross-Party letter which criticised the Government for not properly funding local councils and pointed to the risks to frontline services because of such ‘negligence’.

Residents across Mid Devon were already having to live with some of the worst broadband connectivity in the country, with some communities in the county being among the worst 10 per cent of the whole country with average internet speeds slower than half the national average.

Mr Foord said the Minister had failed to answer his specific question, which showed the Government was ‘woefully out of touch’.

Now, Mr Foord has called for a review of local government funding and a clear commitment to improving broadband connectivity.

Mr Foord said: “The fact Devon County Council is now having to reallocate money that was intended originally for improving broadband connectivity shows just how bad the situation has become.

“People across Mid Devon are already having to live with appalling slow broadband speeds and the reality for many is that they simply cannot get the connection they need to properly get online.

“With the council having to raid funds allocated for this to balance the books, things really are worse than we thought.

“Yet, rather than address these concerns, Ministers seem only to want to fling insults and political attacks instead.

“The response I received in Parliament shows just how woefully out of touch this Conservative Government is.

“They constantly throw around big numbers, ignoring the ground-truth that we are faced with in our towns and villages.

“Years of cuts have pushed our councils to the brink.

“We need a fair deal on local authorities’ funding, so they can focus on investing in our communities and providing the quality services that people deserve.”