None of the main political parties have a sufficient programme of change for local government, according to eight out of 10 senior council officers.
Three-quarters of those polled called on the parties to make health and social care integration the main focus of central government following the election.
The survey - carried out by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) - painted a picture of local government under severe financial pressures, fearful of the potential future and feeling that solutions are unlikely to come from government.
SOLACE director Graeme McDonald said: ‘Councils have been responding by protecting the frontline but, as the cuts in central government funding continue, chief executives and senior managers are starting to fear the impact will soon be felt on service delivery.
‘Local government senior managers have low expectations of help coming from Westminster.
‘While they hope for far more progress to be made, particularly in health and social care integration and housing supply, there is a realisation that most solutions will come from their local places and communities.’
