Responding to the provisional Local Government Finance
Settlement published today, , Chairman of the Local
Government Association, said:
“The recent Budget showed the Government is listening to
the LGA’s call for desperately-needed investment in our
under-pressure local services, such as roads and social care. We
are also pleased that the Government has decided not to increase
the New Homes Bonus (NHB) threshold further next year which makes
up a considerable part of funding for some councils, particularly
shire district authorities, and provided some extra funding for
rural authorities.
“Next year will continue to be hugely challenging for all
councils, who still face an overall funding gap of £3.2 billion
in 2019/20. It is therefore disappointing that the Government has
not used the Settlement to provide further desperately-needed
resources for councils next year.
“Many councils will be forced to take tough decisions about
which services have to be scaled back or stopped altogether to
plug funding gaps. We must not forget that it is individuals and
communities who feel the impact, whether it is through seeing
their local library or leisure centre close, roads deteriorate or
support for young people, families and vulnerable adults scaled
back.
“It is vital that the Government uses the final Settlement
next month to provide the further resources needed to protect our
local services in 2019/20 before ensuring next year’s Spending
Review delivers a truly sustainable funding settlement for local
government.
“As the nation continues to face huge uncertainty, it is
councils who are getting on with the job of providing the
services that matter to our communities. Investment in these
local services, and councils’ prevention and early intervention
work, is the only way councils can continue to make a positive
difference to their residents’ lives. It will also help reduce
pressures on the rest of the public sector, save money for the
public purse and contribute to the wider prosperity and wellbeing
of the nation.”
