Thanks to Simon Ward from the Local Government Association for this response to the Government’s budget announcement. Ed
Responding to today’s Budget, Local Government Association Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell said:
“The national housing shortage and lack of jobs for young people are two of the most pressing issues facing the country today. The Chancellor is right to address these in this year’s Budget and extra support announced for home buyers and small builders, along with additional funding for apprenticeships, are positive steps.
“Much more can be done to build new homes, create jobs and stimulate the economy if local government’s hands were untied by the Chancellor to drive this through at a local level. We will continue pressing government to unlock the potential of local areas to solve these national problems through putting local businesses, colleges and councils in control of tackling youth unemployment and giving local authorities greater freedom to invest in new housing and infrastructure.
“Bringing down spending on benefits through a welfare cap will only be truly effective when government also frees councils to build more social housing.
Black hole in funding
He went on to add,
“While this Budget has not brought further cuts for local government, it has not changed the fact that the next two years will be the toughest yet for people who use and rely upon the services which councils provide.
“The black hole in funding for local bus services, a £10.5 billion backlog in road repairs and continuing uncertainty over funding for much-needed reforms of the adult social care system have yet to be properly addressed.”
40 per cent budget cuts
Sir Merrick finished by saying,
“By next year, council budgets will have been cut by 40 per cent from where they were at the start of this parliament. As the economy improves, people will increasingly start to question why councils are having to reduce and withdraw from providing the services that underpin their daily lives.
“If we are to avoid an upturn in the economy coinciding with a decline in public services, we need nothing less than a fundamental reform of the way the public sector works and an honest reappraisal of how public services are provided and paid for in post-austerity Britain.”
Image: © LGA
