SIGOMA responds to £600m of new funding for local government
Posted on January 25, 2024
Responding to the news that local government would receive an additional £600m, Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA), said:
“This
increase in funding is welcome and will help councils in the short-term.
However, it won’t address the long-term funding gap or the need for reform of
the broken local government finance model. This unprecedented increase before
the final settlement shows that there is a growing understanding within the
Government about the crisis in local government finances. These pressures have
been well-documented for some time, so it is disappointing that the funding has
only been announced at this late hour.
“More
funding will be required to match the current level of demand-led pressures and
stabilise the sector. It is welcome that most of the funding will be allocated
though the social care grant. Social care, particularly children’s services, is
the largest current pressure for the sector and the area most in need of
additional grant funding.”
Read coverage of our comments in the following publications:
- The i - "Council bosses say more money is needed despite £600m funding boost"
- Local Government Chronicle – “Government expected to announce £500m social care boost”
- The MJ - "Challenges remain following funding boost"
- The Independent – “Sunak to give councils £500m in emergency bailout amid cash crisis”
- Public Finance – “Government announces £600m council funding rise”
- Local Government Chronicle (£) – “Productivity plan demand shows ‘mistrust between Westminster and the localities’
- The Independent – “Sunak hands councils £500m in emergency bailout amid cash crisis”