GMB, the union for local government workers, has branded ministers’
local Government funding announcement a Christmas 'kick in the
teeth'. The Local Government Association (LGA) says a
further £1.3bn will be cut in 2019/20 under current plans. This
amounts to 36% of their budgets. By 2020, local authorities
will have faced a reduction to core funding from the Government of
nearly £16 billion since 2010. That means that councils will have
lost 60 pence out of every £1...Request free trial
GMB, the union for local government workers, has branded ministers’
local Government funding announcement a Christmas 'kick in the
teeth'.
The Local Government Association (LGA) says a further £1.3bn
will be cut in 2019/20 under current plans. This amounts to 36% of
their budgets.
By 2020, local authorities will have faced a reduction to
core funding from the Government of nearly £16 billion since 2010.
That means that councils will have lost 60 pence out of every £1
the Government had provided to spend on local services. Next year,
168 councils will receive no more core central government funding
at all.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary for Public Services,
said:
“Ministers have presented councils, who have already seen
billions hacked from their budgets since 2010, with a Christmas
kick in the teeth.
“This zombie Government is totally out of touch with the
realities communities now face,on top of the impact of losing 60
per cent of national funding for local services by 2020 - with many
councils set to lose every penny of Government
support.
“There is no clarity on how local government will be funded
after March 2020, leaving local communities with uncertainty about
their future. Ministers have no proper plan as to how growing
demand for children’s services and social care will be
met.
“With councils in dire need of funding, this weak and wobbly
Government saw it fit to delay this vital announcement and drag out
uncertainty as it descended into internal infighting and
chaos."
