Laura Sharman 12 October 2018

Neighbourhood services a 'serious concern', report warns

A new report has highlighted 'serious concerns' over the future quality of neighbourhood services and adult social care unless councils receive adequate funding in the next spending review.

The Performance Tracker 2018 sets out the cost and performance of nine public services. It found neighbourhood services such as road maintenance and waste management have sustained the deepest cuts to spending, but a lack of data had made it impossible to say if councils can continue operating at their current level of efficiency.

It also expressed concern over adult social care finding there are 'clear signs' that levels of output can't be maintained or increased with affecting the quality of service.

The report, published by the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, warned that the cost of public services if being 'quietly shifted' towards the public, who have not been made aware of important trade-offs between spending and performance.

It stated: 'Social care – for both children and adults – is the most costly element of local government activity. As demand for both has risen, spending on other services that local government runs – such as libraries, waste collection and trading standards – has been consistently squeezed. Non-social care spending now makes up only 46% of all local government spending, down from 55% in 2010/11.

'This creates obvious potential for public resentment. People paying local taxes think that they are paying for services available to everyone in the area, such as waste collection and libraries. But those universal services are being squeezed by social care, used only by a minority.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner