Three Kent MPs have put their names to a letter calling on the government to rethink funding levels to local authorities such as Kent County Council (KCC).

Conservative Members of Parliament Damian Green (Ashford), Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) and Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) were among 46 to raise concerns.

Seven former cabinet members, Mr Green and Mr Clark among them, are signatories to the appeal for an emergency injection of funding to struggling councils.

Birmingham, Croydon, Nottingham and Thurrock have been forced recently to declare themselves effectively bankrupt.

KCC claims it no longer receives enough central government funding to meet its legal obligations to provide statutory services such as adult social care.

Government chiefs are currently consulting on its final Local Government Finance Settlement, to be published next month. This will confirm how much funding councils in England will receive in 2024/25.

The government recently announced a package of £64bn for councils, a figure which fell well short of what council chiefs say they need to operate without dipping into reserves.

The County Councils Network (CCN) highlighted its members were under extreme financial pressure and set to overspend this year by £650m, with these councils facing a total £4bn funding deficit over three years.

The CCN said the announcement of an amended national living wage has left authorities even worse off next year.

The MPs say they are "exceptionally concerned" residents will be faced with a "double whammy" of reductions in services and higher council tax rates in order for councils to deliver a balanced budget.

It echoes concerns repeatedly voiced by KCC leader Cllr Roger Gough about funding levels and the ability to provide its functions without cutting services.

The letter, jointly co-ordinated by the CCN and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), states: “There is still an opportunity to rectify the situation and ensure MPs are able to support the vote on the Local Government Settlement within the House of Commons in early February.

"We would therefore urge you to do all you can to use the Final Local Government Finance Settlement to provide additional funding for local government to ensure that the councils in our areas can continue to provide the services that our residents depend upon.

“As a fellow MP for a county area, we are sure that you will find the prospect of residents in county and rural areas being impacted in such a way at this time concerning.”

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said £4bn more finding was being made available to councils, an increase of 6.5%, to reflect the pressures they are facing.

Mr Gove said last December: “Councils are the backbone of their communities and carry out tremendous work every day in delivering vital services to the people they serve.

“We recognise they are facing challenges and that is why we have announced a £64 billion funding package to ensure they can continue making a difference, including through our combined efforts to level up.”