27 January 2017

Councils facing £5.8bn funding gap by 2020 warn town hall chiefs

The financial settlement will leave two-thirds of councils millions of pounds worse off in 2017/18 - with 201 districts pushed towards ‘financial tipping point’ - council leaders have warned today.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the Government to reverse unexpected reductions in New Homes Bonus (NHB) payments to councils and find 'genuinely new money' to properly fund social care.

Analysis by the LGA also showed that 57 social care authorities will lose more in New Homes Bonus than they gain in the Adult Social Care Support Grant.

The research found councils would need to achieve growth of greater than 0.4% before they receive any NHB payments.

Lord Porter, LGA chairman, said: ‘No new money from central government is being provided to councils in 2017/18. In fact, more than two thirds of councils will actually be worse off next year than they were expecting.

‘Councils need government to reverse New Homes Bonus cuts next year and fund the Adult Social Care Services Grant with new money. This would avoid councils from having to make deeper than expected cutbacks to local services in 2017/18 and would provide some short-term support to councils providing social care.’

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary, said that local councils are being 'gradually starved of cash'.

'If these cuts go ahead, vulnerable elderly people will suffer and services will struggle to meet basic needs such as washing, dressing or getting out of bed,' he said.

For more on this story visit The MJ (£).

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Assistant

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £25395.00 per annum
Residential AssistantPermanent, Full Time£25,081 up to £25,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Planning Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Durham County Council is looking for experienced and knowledgeable Senior Planning Officers to join our vibrant Development Management team. Our team Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Head of Service – Social Care

Wrexham County Borough Council
G15 £63,148 - £67,058 per annum
There is an exciting opportunity within Children Social Care to join the senior management team Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Recuriter: Wrexham County Borough Council

Head of Service Social Work & Specialist Support

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Grade M scp 60 £72,118 - scp 64 £77,293
There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cafe Assistant - Weald Country Park

Essex County Council
Up to £13.3000 per hour
Café Assistant (Weald Country Park)Contract
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner