Response to the IFS report on the Spending Review

12 Feb 2019 09:30 AM

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Resources Board, responded to the IFS report on the Spending Review

“Local government in England faces an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025. The Spending Review will therefore be make or break for vital local services and securing the financial sustainability of councils must be the top priority.

“If the Government fails to adequately fund local government in the Spending Review then there is a real risk to the future financial viability of some services and councils.

“Councils were at the front of the queue when austerity started so local services should be at the front of the queue if it is coming to an end.

“Fully funding councils is the only way to ensure they can continue to provide all of the valued local services which make such a positive difference to people’s lives. It will also save money for the taxpayer and others part of the public sector, such as the NHS.”

Spending Review 2019

Without a sustainable funding, your council can't deliver the essential services that keep your communities running; securing the financial sustainability of local services must be the top priority for the Spending Review later this year.

Find out more

IFS Report:  If the coming spending review is to end austerity Chancellor will need to find extra billions