LGA responds to HCLG Committee report on local government finance

22 Aug 2019 09:49 AM

LGA Chairman, Cllr James Jamieson, responded to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Report, “Local government finance and the 2019 Spending Review”, which has concluded that “council services are at breaking point” 

“Councils can make a huge difference to the lives of people and the communities they live in and ensure their local areas thrive and prosper.

“However, vital local services provided by councils face a funding gap of more than £5 billion next year. A third of councils fear they will run out of funding to provide their statutory services – such as adult social care, protecting children and preventing homelessness, within three years.

“The Committee is therefore right to recognise our call for securing the sustainability of local services to be the Government’s top priority. Its forthcoming Spending Round needs to confirm the continuation of key funding streams such as the Better Care Fund, and guarantee councils will have enough money to meet the growing demand pressures they face next year.

“Only with the right funding and powers can councils meet their legal duties and protect the wide range of other valued local services which also make such a positive difference to communities and people’s lives.

“We are pleased the Committee has also backed our call for the devolution process to be reignited. When councils have the freedoms and funding to make local decisions, there is clear and significant evidence that outcomes improve and the country gets better value for money.”

Local services will continue to decline until Government tackles £5 billion funding gap