LGiU response: Chancellor’s Autumn statement
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive at the LGiU said:
“Local government wasn’t expecting any early Christmas presents from the Chancellor and it didn’t get any. It’s disappointing to hear him blame “higher spending by local authorities” as one of the causes of, “a weaker economic outlook”.
Of course, measures to boost productivity and support low and middle earning families will be welcome to councils. But what will really worry local government will be what the Chancellor didn’t talk about.
Nothing about the role of local government in allocating and spending the National Productivity Investment Fund.
Nothing about devolution beyond the major cities.
Nothing about funding for social care.
And nothing about how business rate retention is going to work and how local government will be financed in the medium to long term. This was presented as an upbeat Autumn Statement, but between the lines there was nothing for local government to celebrate.”
Ends
LGiU’s full briefing on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement is available here.
The Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) is a think tank and membership body with over 200 councils and other organisations subscribing to our networks. We work to strengthen local democracy and put citizens in control of their own lives, communities and local services. For more information, visit lgiu.org.
