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English councils 'to introduce or increase charges' | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Many English councils say they will create new charges or increase existing ones in the next financial year - due to a lack of cash, a survey says. | |
More than half of 90 councils surveyed said they could not fulfil their statutory duties in 2015-16. | |
The research was conducted by the MJ magazine and the Local Government Information Unit. | |
Ministers said councils could save cash by working together, cutting fraud and managing property more efficiently. | |
Councils' statutory duties - which vary between different kinds of authorities - include looking after schools, road maintenance, social housing and child protection. | |
There are almost 400 local authorities in England, and senior officials and councillors from 90 took part in the survey earlier this month. | There are almost 400 local authorities in England, and senior officials and councillors from 90 took part in the survey earlier this month. |
The research found: | The research found: |
'Dangerously close' | 'Dangerously close' |
Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit think tank, said: "Councils across the country are telling us that the local government finance system is broken." | Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit think tank, said: "Councils across the country are telling us that the local government finance system is broken." |
He said the "only solution" was removing the "bureaucracy and control" of central government and giving power to councils. | He said the "only solution" was removing the "bureaucracy and control" of central government and giving power to councils. |
Heather Jameson, editor of the MJ, said councils were "dangerously close to collapse". | Heather Jameson, editor of the MJ, said councils were "dangerously close to collapse". |
She called for an "urgent overhaul" of local government finance and the "way local public services work together". | She called for an "urgent overhaul" of local government finance and the "way local public services work together". |
Local government minister Kris Hopkins said that rather than trying to increase taxes, councils should seek savings by working together, cutting fraud and improving the way they manage property. | Local government minister Kris Hopkins said that rather than trying to increase taxes, councils should seek savings by working together, cutting fraud and improving the way they manage property. |
"Every bit of the public sector needs to do its bit to pay off deficit left by the last administration, including local government which accounts for a quarter of all public spending. There is no magic money tree." | |
On Wednesday, a report by the Independent Commission on Local Government Finance said services like adult social care could "collapse" unless councils got new funding powers. | On Wednesday, a report by the Independent Commission on Local Government Finance said services like adult social care could "collapse" unless councils got new funding powers. |
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