Councils need a bold new vision to fund and deliver essential services

The perilous state of local government finances and the future of the sector provoked passionate discussion during the special local government conference. Angela Waller, speaking for the executive, referenced UNISON research that calculated that, in 2020, councils faced a combined funding shortfall of £10 billion. To put the figure into context, Ms Waller said the amount local government lost over 10 years of austerity was 15 billion. “So, 10 billion for just one year is huge.” The impact of a decade of austerity, combined with the effect COVID-19 has had on councils and schools’ costs, raised questions about the long-term viability of the way English councils are funded. Rounding on the government, Ms Waller put the blame for the problems dogging local government squarely at the door of Number 10. She said the Westminster government “had not provided the long-term financial stability schools and councils need”. To underline her point, she provided a sobering illustration of the depth of the financial black hole facing councils. “An LGA member said that, even if councils stop filling potholes, maintaining parks and open spaces, closed all children’s centres, libraries, museums, leisure centres, turned off every street light and shut all discretionary bus routes, they would still not have saved enough money to plug this gap.” Conference heard that UNISON staff are delivering essential services, doing crucial jobs in stressful environments while being underpai...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News local government local government conference 2021 Source Type: news