Pressure to block a £42million funding black hole in Dartford’s health services is going to be put on the government after a motion was passed by the Council last night.

The motion, submitted by the shadow Leader Jonathon Hawkes, called on the council to endorse a letter sent by the Policy Overview Committee to highlight a growing gap in funding to the Clinical Commissioning Group in Dartford.

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) faces pressure from a rapidly increasing population in growth.

Councillor Hawkes said: “This is about sending a clear message to the government for fair funding for our area.

“Because of the pace and speed of development within the borough a fairer settlement is needed to meet existing and forecasted demands.

“Our local health services are facing a real pressure and this will help the local CCG.”

Mike Gilbert, Company Secretary & Assistant Accountable Officer for DGS CCG said earlier this year that practices on average in Dartford experiencing a two per cent growth in the number of patients since 2014/15.

He also warned that the CCG budget was set at £344 million for 2016/17 but due to rapid population growth, a deficit of £17m was predicted for the year - rising to a shortfall of £42m by 2020.

This is despite the CCG already finding £13m in savings.

Cllr Hawkes’ motion featured points on achieving fair funding for the borough in relation to the speed of development and forecasted increased demand and on staff failing to deliver the level of care they would want too because of funding.

Concerns were raised about the impact of developments such as the proposed theme park on the Swanscombe Peninsula and the Ebbsfleet Garden City.

Labour councillor Mark Maddison: “Circumstances in Dartford are different to moist authorities with ongoing above average population growth.”

Darent Valley experienced a surge in patient numbers at A&E last week with 360 attending compared to the average of 300.

It also mentioned the public sector pay freeze introduced in 2010 but this was amended by Council leader Jeremy Kite who otherwise backed the motion.

Leader of the Council, Jeremy Kite, said at the meeting: “Dartford must get a proper settlement and what’s due to us as a community.

“Civilised health service is key, requires funding commitment training and brave management decisions.

“We need to focus on the things we can achieve in Dartford got to get projections right because funding is crucial and we need fair funding for our growth.”

The motion to pressure the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England to reconsider funding for the area was unanimously passed by all councillors.

Susan Acott, chief executive at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, said more funding would help support the level of growth in the borough.

She said: "The scale of growth in the Dartford and Gravesham area is unique.

"The vast house building programme will bring thousands of new families into the area and this must be supported by a proportional increase in local health provision.”