The East of England Local Government Association (EELGA) has urged the Government for greater financial support on infrastructure, homelessness and housing, adults and children’s social care services in the region in its upcoming Spending Review, due to conclude this June.
In the submission, EELGA also highlights the significant change that councils are now required to plan for as a result of the recently published English Devolution White Paper and the need for additional funding from Government to work on this alongside the ongoing delivery of crucial, high-quality services.
Providing a single unified voice for local government in the East of England, EELGA calls on the Government to recognise the region’s significant potential in delivering economic growth by committing funding for crucial infrastructure projects. These schemes, including the Ely and Haughley rail junction enhancements, the Eastern section of East-West Rail and strategic road improvements have the potential to unlock billions of pounds of growth and support significant housing delivery.
On housing, EELGA has called for urgent reform of the housing benefit subsidy regime for temporary accommodation, so that the Local Housing Allowance rate is brought up to 90% of 2025 levels, rather than at 90% of January 2011 levels. In addition, greater flexibility for using the Homelessness Prevention Grant announced in the provisional local government finance settlement.
On children’s services, EELGA calls for the Introduction of a long-term SEND reform programme which improves outcomes for all children with SEND and is financially sustainable for councils which is supported by a range of short-term measures to help alleviate the pressure in the system and unlock resource.
To read EELGA’s full submission, click here
Click below to read the following submissions that EELGA has worked in partnership on: