Local councils urge for reform to prevent services from reaching a breaking point
The County Councils Network has issued a warning that in order for services to become sustainable, there needs to be comprehensive reform along with long-term funding.
If the next government does not provide long-term funding and implement fundamental reforms, local services could potentially reach a “breaking point,” cautioned the County Councils Network (CCN) on Thursday.
Representing 37 county councils and unitary authorities in England, serving 47 percent of the population, the CCN stated that county authorities are facing a £2 billion funding gap over the next two years, reduced to £1.1 billion when considering council tax increases and planned savings.
The bipartisan network emphasized that the winner of the upcoming general election on July 4 will inherit an “extremely precarious” situation and urged political parties to consider proposals such as implementing price caps on children’s services and granting county authorities additional economic tools.
According to CCN, 68 percent of the average county authority budget is allocated to adult social care and children’s services, with overspending of £360 million on children’s services reported last year, amidst an ongoing rise in demand.
Additionally, the network highlighted a 12 percent increase in the number of children in care in county areas since 2019, resulting in a doubling of costs for school transport for special educational needs pupils to £800 million within the same timeframe.
Without increased funding, local authorities may need to engage in “an honest discussion with government” to determine which services can feasibly be delivered beyond the statutory minimum, cautioned the report.
In their “Manifesto for Counties,” the network called for a “minimum four-year funding settlement for councils” in future spending reviews and an “significant uplift in funding for councils over the Parliament.”
Not only that, but they also advocated for “ambitious and wide-ranging reforms,” including the introduction of price caps on residential care for children, reforming the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, improving school transport for pupils with SEND, and expanding economic devolution to provide councils with more tools to enhance local economic productivity and prosperity.
In a joint statement supported by CCN’s Conservative Chairman Tim Oliver and other vice chairpersons from different parties, the network emphasized the urgent need for the government to address the critical funding gap faced by county councils.
They stressed that “highly valued local services could reach breaking point” without additional funding and fundamental reforms, calling for bold actions to be taken by the next government.
Furthermore, the network stated that council services facing immense pressure can only become sustainable by implementing substantial reform and expressed a desire to collaborate as key partners in this process.
With a focus on securing long-term growth amidst tight public finances, the manifesto outlined strategies to empower county authorities through new economic powers and devolved funding streams to ensure the future prosperity necessary to fund local public services in the long run, as per the councillors.
Labour has voiced intentions to enhance economic devolution and prepare councils without existing devolution deals for “a new suite of powers.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK for their comments on the matter.
