Services for vulnerable Londoners in desperate need of Spending Round boost

  • By Gemma Kappala-R...

Local services relied on by millions of vulnerable Londoners are in desperate need of more funding in the Spending Round, London Councils has warned today.

In a submission to the Treasury ahead of the Chancellor’s Spending Round statement on Wednesday, London Councils has summarised London boroughs’ key asks of government.

Core funding to London local government has fallen 63 per cent since 2010, while London's population has grown by a million people. Boroughs must make £1.5 billion of savings in total over the next three years to balance their books.

After enduring almost a decade of funding reductions, London Councils is supporting calls from across local government for an above-inflation increase in funding for councils.

London Councils’ submission to the Treasury also highlights the service areas that are under the most pressure: children’s social care, SEND support for children and young people, adult social care and homelessness services. Additional funding for local government should be targeted at these services.

London Councils is also calling for certainty over plans for future funding for councils - especially regarding when the Fair Funding Review and 75 per cent Business Rates Retention will come into force.

Cllr Peter John OBE, Chair of London Councils, said:

“London boroughs are struggling to meet the needs of millions of vulnerable Londoners - including 55,000 homeless families living in temporary accommodation, 700,000 children living in poverty and a population of adults aged 65 and over that is set to grow 60% by 2040.

“An above-inflation increase in funding for local government along with greater future certainty would strengthen local services across the country, benefitting millions of people - including more than 9 million Londoners.

“Investing in children’s social care, SEND support, adult social care and homelessness prevention is also a priority as growing demand is threatening to overwhelm London boroughs and destabilise local services.

“We hope that the Government recognises the significant levels of need in the capital and across the country by using the Spending Round to avert a crisis in local public services.”

Click here to read London Councils’ representation to the Treasury for the 2019 Spending Round.

ENDS