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Senior Councillors from the Borough of Poole met with Robert Syms, MP for Poole last week to discuss the level of Government funding Poole receives.

In a bid to raise the issue of Council funding before the Government sets the amount each area will receive next year, the meeting highlighted issues at the top of the agenda for Poole's Councillors.

Cllr Brian Leverett, Leader of the Council, said: "Poole residents face grossly unfair treatment. What possible justification can there be for Poole to receive £340 less per child than the national average education funding and £124 less than our neighbours in Bournemouth? Poole residents are hit hard in three ways, with high property prices and mortgages, resulting in higher Council Tax bands and then by getting less national Government funding.

It is essential that Government realise the particular problems associated with under-funding in Poole before they set the rate support grant for the Town rather than after as has been the practice in previous years. We have therefore asked Robert Syms if he will arrange a meeting with the appropriate ministers to allow us to put Poole's case in early autumn."

Poole is experiencing particular pressures, especially in education this year. Cllr Leverett, added: "The Government accepts that Poole does not receive extra funding to take account of the additional cost of recruiting and retaining staff that some authorities face but salaries are the same for teachers in Poole as those authorities that do receive the extra funding."