Responding to Budget 2018, , Chairman of the Local
Government Association, said:
“Today’s Budget shows the Government has started
to listen to the LGA’s call for desperately-needed
investment in our under-pressure local services,
but falls short of what we
need in the long-term. 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.
“The LGA’s Budget submission highlighted the severe funding
pressures facing councils in 2019/20. The Chancellor has acted to
help tackle some of this immediate funding crisis with £650
million for social care which provides a financial boost for some
of our local public services.
“While this funding will ease some of the immediate
financial pressure facing councils and our local services, it is
clear that this cannot be a one-off. Today’s funding
is a start, but the real test will come in the
Spending Review next year.
“Local government in England continues to face significant
funding gaps and rising demand for adult social care, children’s
services and homelessness support will continue to threaten other
services our communities rely on, like running libraries,
cleaning streets and maintaining park spaces. Councils also
continue to face huge uncertainty about how they will pay for
local services into the next decade and beyond.
“Investing in local government is good for the nation’s
prosperity, economic growth and the overall health and wellbeing
of the nation. We now look forward to working with the Government
to ensure the forthcoming Spending Review delivers a truly
sustainable funding settlement for local government, and its
adult social care Green Paper puts social care on a firmer,
long-term financial footing for the people who depend on care and
support.”
