In a new survey, council bosses have warned they do not have the adequate powers and resources to deliver statutory services.
A survey all council chief executives, leaders and mayors by the New Local Government Network found they have low confidence in being able to meet local need for adult and children’s social care.
The survey also identified wide regional variations in their confidence to meet local housing need. On a scale of 1 to 100 - with 0 being not at all confident and 100 being very confident - the confidence levels over housing ranged from 48 in London to 73 in the North East.
However, there was a relatively high confidence rating in local economies and community cohesion, which both scored 68.
‘It should be a matter of deep concern that council chief executives, mayors and leaders feel they lack adequate resources and powers to meet their most important statutory duties,’ said Adam Lent, director of the New Local Government Network.
‘Often this issue gets caught up in complex debates about funding and demand but what lies behind this survey are rising levels of risk for vulnerable children and adults. The Government must act urgently to address those risks.’
