After a decade of neglect our councils need real investment – Andrew Gwynne

Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour's Shadow Communities Secretary, responding to new analysis from the Local Government Association on local services in England facing a £6.5bn funding gap by 2025, said:

“Our councils keep our streets cleaner and safer, protect the most vulnerable in society and maintain our green spaces – but a decade of neglect has eroded these vital services away.

“Recent funding announced for children’s and adult’s social care will fail even to cover the rising costs of wages, and over half of the funding for local services announced in February will come from forcing councils to increase council tax.

“This is clearly unfair and unsustainable. After a decade of neglect, our councils need real investment so they can provide the services that local people rely on.”