WIREDGOV

Local Government Association Senior Vice Chair, Cllr Nick Forbes, responded to the Social Mobility Commission’s State of the Nation Report which found that the ‘privilege gap’ has barely shifted in the last four years

“We want every resident to have a good quality of life and to be able to improve their circumstances regardless of their background or where they live.

“To tackle poverty and promote social mobility, policies cutting across a wide range of areas – such as early years, family support, education, employment support, welfare, public health and housing - need to be considered together and follow people through their lifetime.

“Councils want to work with government to see that children, young people and families get the best start in life and in order to better serve the needs of disadvantaged communities, we are calling on government to give councils oversight of all school improvement, sufficient funding for local welfare support and schools, and ensure that all families have access to the free childcare that they need.”

#CouncilsCan: Spending Review 2019

With the right funding and powers, councils can continue to lead local areas, improve residents’ lives, reduce demand for public services and save money for the taxpayer. Securing the financial sustainability of local services must be the top priority for the Spending Review.

Find out more

Social mobility in Great Britain - state of the nation 2018 to 2019