The Chancellor confirmed local authorities can expect to
see the funding they have access to now rise in real
terms by an estimated 4.3% in 2020 to 2021, with a £2.9
billion increase in their core spending including £1
billion government grant for adults and children’s social
care.
Councils will also have the option to raise up to half a
billion pounds more for adult social care, where needed,
through additional council tax flexibilities to fund more
care home places, more social workers and to provide
residents with the local services that they need and
deserve.
Together with over £700 million of additional funding for
children with special educational needs, the funding
available to support vital local services next year will
come to more than £3.5 billion.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP
said:
I am delighted the Chancellor has announced the biggest
year-on-year real terms increase in spending power for
local government in almost a decade.
Next year councils will benefit from £3.5 billion of
extra funding available to them for the core services
that are so important to residents – including a £1
billion cash grant for social care.
This package comes in recognition of the central role
that local authorities play in supporting communities
and our most vulnerable people across the country.
Funding was also announced in the Spending
Round for other areas for which the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible
for, including:
Homelessness
The Chancellor confirmed £422 million will be spent
tackling homelessness and rough sleeping next year, with
funding up by £54 million in 2020 to 2021 – a 13%
real terms increase in funding.
The money is part of the government’s drive to ensure no
one is left without anywhere to go, and follows
the publication of the Rough Sleeping
Strategy last year.
Schemes such as the Rapid Rehousing Pathway scheme and
the Rough Sleeping Initiative will be supported by this
funding.
Towns Fund
The Chancellor confirmed £241 million from
the Towns
Fund in 2020 to 2021 will help support high
streets, towns and local economies so they can harness
their unique strengths to deliver growth, prosperity and
level up the regions.
Building safety
An extra £24 million will be made available for the
building safety programme – as the government takes
urgent steps to ensure a tragedy like Grenfell can never
happen again.
It comes on top of £600 million the government has
committed for social and private building owners to
remove ACM cladding from residential buildings.
Backing for other projects
The government is continuing to provide funding to make
the housing market work and backing the Midlands Engine
and Northern Powerhouse.
The package also includes continued support to increase
home ownership through the Help to Buy equity loan and
other housing programmes, including providing Homes
England additional funding to deliver more homes where
people need them.
There will also be continued funding for the Troubled
Families programme, which is transforming the way public
services are delivered to support families with complex
needs.
There will also be an extra £10 million funding for
Integration Areas to support English as a second
language, under the integration programme. The scheme
will provide improved access to education, jobs and other
opportunities.
