News

Vital public health services such as drug and alcohol treatment, early years and school aged support, weight management and sexual health services need urgent investment in the Spending Review if the country is to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic, councils say today.

“Councils have been calling for urgent certainty and clarity about what to expect after the national lockdown ends and it is good that the Government has listened and provided this much-needed announcement."

“Overall, the Spending Review provides more certainty for councils next year but the long-term outlook remains unclear. Public finances will undoubtedly be under huge strain in the years ahead but investment in our local public services is critical to our national recovery next year and beyond."

“Councils have done an incredible job getting people sleeping rough off the streets and have accommodated more than 29,000 people who have faced homelessness since the start of the coronavirus pandemic."

“The extra funding for adult and children’s social care announced today is positive but will not on its own be enough to tackle the significant challenges facing children’s social care which was already under strain prior to the pandemic as a result of increasing demand and long-term funding reductions."

Responding to announcements about adult social care and public health in today’s Spending Review, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “The coronavirus crisis has demonstrated the crucial value of councils’ adult social care and public health services. “Extra funding for children’s and adult social care will help address some short-term pressures, but we need a clear plan on the future of care and support and how we pay for it, which recognises low pay in the adult social care workforce and finally delivers parity of esteem with

“With council housing waiting lists set to potentially nearly double next year, now is the time to let councils embark on an ambitious post-pandemic building boom of 100,000 social homes for rent a year, which as well as reducing homelessness would also deliver a £14.5 billion boost to the economy.”

“This new investment is good news and will help councils to support their communities and help tackle our local road repairs backlog."

Commenting on the Government’s new Levelling Up Fund announced in today’s Spending Review, Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chair of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board said:

Cllr Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the Local Government Association’s City Regions board, comments on the Government’s new £2.9 billion Restart programme to support the long term unemployed back into employment.