WIREDGOV

LGA Chair Cllr David Sparks, responded to the independent Commission on Local Government Finance's final report ‘Financing English Devolution'

"This report from the independent commission raises issues which will have a bearing on everyone in this country, now and for generations to come.

"With rising demand, more complex needs and less money to go round, the time for merely talking about changing the way we do things is fast running out.

"The services councils provide will not be able to withstand another five years of cuts without radical reform, and it will be people who rely on good roads, public facilities and care who pay the price.

"It will be vital that this and the next government take heed of the Commission's recommendations. The Commission's call for a variable pace of reform is an entirely sensible one. As this report makes clear, it will be important that pioneer areas which first take on new freedoms represent a broad range of types of local authority across all parts of the country.

"For many areas it's now devolution or bust."

Notes to editors

1. The Independent Commission on Local Government Finance publishes its final report ‘Financing English Devolution' today (Wednesday). The report and press release can be found on the commission's website at: www.localfinancecommission.org
2. The commission was set up in June 2014 and was tasked with making recommendations for the reform of local government finance and finding better ways to fund local services and promote economic growth in England. It was established by the LGA, the national voice of local government, and the Chartered Institute for Public Finance (CIPFA), the professional body for public finance professionals. Its views and recommendations are independent of those two organisations.

Contact

Simon Ward, Deputy Head of News and Internal Communications
Local Government Association
Telephone: 020 7664 3147
Email: simon.ward@local.gov.uk
Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ