Ellie Ames 30 May 2024

Council bosses call on next government to deliver ‘fundamental reform’

Council bosses call on next government to deliver ‘fundamental reform’ image
Image: Nigel J. Harris / Shutterstock.com

Local services could reach ‘breaking point’ if the next government fails to deliver long-term funding and ‘fundamental reform’, a cross-party group of council leaders has argued.

The County Councils Network (CCN) has urged the next government to set out increased and long-term funding for councils in its next Spending Review.

But this must be coupled with reform in the services that are under the most pressure, the network argues in its new Manifesto for Counties.

The CCN said without an uplift in funds for adult social care and children’s services, councils would have to ‘carefully consider what services can reasonably be delivered above the statutory minimum’.

The manifesto calls for price caps to tackle ‘spiralling’ costs in the children’s residential care market, reform to SEND and school transport systems, and extended economic devolution.

The leaders of the CCN’s Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups said: ‘With the public finances tight and non-protected government departments potentially facing a real-terms reduction, it is vital that all political parties focus on securing long-term growth.

‘Our manifesto sets out how to empower county authorities through new economic powers and devolved funding streams so they can create the prosperity of the future to help fund local public services in the long-term.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Adult Social Care Support Worker - Technology Enabled Care

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum
Adult Social Care Support Worker - Technology Enabled CareFixed Term, Full Time£25,391 to £32,131 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Placement Officer

Essex County Council
£28220.00 - £33200.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Placement OfficerPermanent, Full Time£28,220 to £33,200 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Senior Highways Engineer

Hounslow London Borough Council
£50,754 – £53,607 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Customer Service Adviser

Oxfordshire County Council
£24404 - £24790
You will be the Customer Service Adviser at Abingdon Library. Customer Service Advisers are the first point of contact with library customers and library partners. The role involves continual interaction with users of the library, face to face, via email Abingdon
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner