Responding to the final Local Government Finance Settlement published today, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said:
“We are pleased that today’s final Local Government Finance settlement confirms previously-announced extra grant funding and council tax raising powers in 2022/23 to help councils meet the extra cost and demand-led pressures they face to keep providing services at pre-pandemic levels. For that to happen, every council would have to raise council tax by the maximum allowed without a referendum at a time when they know how tough things are for many low-income working households.
“However, it is disappointing that the Government has not acted on our call for the final settlement to include further funding to tackle the existing pressures facing our local services, in particular in adult and children’s social care and homelessness support, nor provide investment in vital preventative and early help services. Councils are also increasingly unconvinced that the £5.4 billion allocated for social care through the new Health and Social Care Levy this year will be sufficient to fund adult social care reforms.
“With future years looking challenging, it is crucial that local services have a long-term, sustainable future which gives councils certainty over their funding. This includes the urgent need for clarity from the Government on which local government funding reforms will happen and when.”
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