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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/20/not-enough-money-to-run-vital-services-warns-england-councils

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Not enough money to run vital services, warn England's councils Not enough money to run vital services, warn England's councils
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England’s largest councils have called for a massive injection of government funds after warning they no longer had sufficient money to run vital frontline services, from children’s centres to rural bus routes. England’s largest councils have called for a massive injection of government funds after saying they no longer had sufficient money to run vital frontline services, from children’s centres to rural bus routes.
The Conservative-dominated County Councils Network (CCN), which represents authorities covering nearly half the country’s population, said its members expected to make an extra £900m of cuts next year in order to balance their budgets. The Conservative-dominated County Councils Network (CCN), which represents authorities covering nearly half the country’s population, said its members expected to make an extra £900m of cuts next year to balance their budgets.
It said councils would need to make a fresh round of “unpalatable” cuts to a range of services to respond to soaring demand for children’s social services and adult social care. It said councils would need to make “unpalatable” cuts to respond to the soaring demand for children’s social services and adult social care.
Roads, libraries, Sure Start centres and youth clubs, bus route subsidies, recycling centres, and drug and alcohol services were all likely to face deep cuts and closures, while services charges would be increased or introduced, the CCN said. Roads, libraries, Sure Start centres and youth clubs, bus route subsidies, recycling centres, and drug and alcohol services were likely to face deep cuts and closures, while services charges would be increased or introduced, the CCN said.
Cllr Nick Rushton, CCN’s finance spokesman and the Conservative leader of Leicestershire county council, said the government needed to intervene with extra funds if county councils were to avoid publicly unpopular cutbacks in 2018-19. Cllr Nicholas Rushton, CCN’s finance spokesman and the Conservative leader of Leicestershire county council, said the government needed to intervene with extra funds if county councils were to avoid unpopular cutbacks in 2018-19.
“County authorities are in a serious and extremely challenging financial position. The further planned funding cuts and continued escalation of costs outside of our control, will make this bad situation even worse.” He said: “County authorities are in a serious and extremely challenging financial position. The further planned funding cuts and continued escalation of costs outside of our control will make this bad situation even worse. There is not enough money today to run vital services.”
He added: “There is not enough money today to run vital services.” The growing financial pressure on budgets would increase the risk of councils moving to a “core offer”, meaning services would be stripped to the legal minimum.
The growing financial pressure on budgets would increase the risk of councils having to move to what they have called a “core offer” – meaning services would be stripped back to the bare legal minimum. Northamptonshire county council, which is technically insolvent, has said it will set out proposals for core-offer cuts at the end of this month to try to fill a £60m hole in its accounts.
Northamptonshire county council, which is technically insolvent, has said it would set out “core offer” cuts proposals at the end of this month in a desperate attempt to fill a £60m black hole in its accounts. Several county councils have reported financial dire straits, including Somerset and Lancashire, while others, such as East Sussex, have warned they face bankruptcy within three years unless they make drastic cuts.
Several county councils have reported financial dire straits, including Somerset and Lancashire, while others such as East Sussex have warned they face bankruptcy within three years unless they take drastic cuts.
Last winter the government intervened with extra funds for social care to prevent a revolt by backbench Tory MPs incensed by cuts to funding in rural areas.Last winter the government intervened with extra funds for social care to prevent a revolt by backbench Tory MPs incensed by cuts to funding in rural areas.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Our funding settlement gave a real terms increase in resources for local government in 2018-19. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Our funding settlement gave a real-terms increase in resources for local government in 2018-19. Local authorities are responsible for their own funding decisions, but over the next two years, we are providing councils with £90.7bn to help them meet the needs of their residents.
“Local authorities are responsible for their own funding decisions, but over the next two years, we are providing councils with £90.7bn to help them meet the needs of their residents. “We are giving them the power to retain the growth in business-rates income and are working with local government to develop a funding system for the future based on the needs of different areas.”
“We are giving them the power to retain the growth in business rates income and are working with local government to develop a funding system for the future based on the needs of different areas.”
Local governmentLocal government
Public financePublic finance
Local politicsLocal politics
ConservativesConservatives
AusterityAusterity
Public sector cuts
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