25.11.19
TUC calls for large-scale investment in local services
£1.4bn less a year is being spent on key local services than in 2010 according to new analysis published today (25 Nov) by Trade Union Congress (TUC).
TUC is calling for large-scale investment in local services as North West council spending on vital services is down by a fifth since the start of the decade.
In 2010/11 councils in the North West were spending a total of £6.8bn on services such as social care, waste management, libraries and transport.
Compared with figures in 2018/19, with cuts occurring throughout the decade, that show spending had fallen by 21% (£1.4bn) in these areas.
When you apply this number to an individual basis, it equates to 23% (£180) less being spent on services per person in the North West.
The five councils that have seen the biggest spending drops in the North West are Rossendale (57% less), Copeland (51% less), Halton (51% less), Preston (46% less) and Burnley (44% less).
The figure across the whole of England is £7.8bn a year less on key services than in 2010.
TUC Regional Secretary Jay McKenna said:
“Ministers have slashed funding for local services across the region. These are services our communities really depend upon, like youth services, libraries and local transport.
“We need a plan for healing the pain a decade of Conservative cuts have caused. That means new investment to restore council budgets back to where they were at the start of the decade.”
This comes after the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed in July that one in three councils fear they will run out of funding to provide legal duties by 2022/23.
The LGA chairman, Lord Porter, said that “Securing the financial sustainability of local government must be the top priority for the next Prime Minister.”