It is encouraging to see the Government’s reaffirmed commitment to funding simplification and multi-year settlements, which will reduce administrative burdens and give councils across the East of England greater certainty to plan services.
Other welcome changes made in response to the consultation include:
- Reflection of daytime population figures, covering commuters and tourists. This acknowledges the extra pressures faced by coastal and visitor-heavy areas in our region
- A bespoke formula for temporary accommodation. This should help urban centres manage rising homelessness costs
- A remoteness adjustment for adult social care. This reflects the challenges of delivering services in rural counties.
- Excluding council tax base projections from the resource adjustment. This means councils will retain the full financial benefit of new housing growth.
- The review of sales, fees and charges. This should open the door to greater local flexibility over revenue streams in the future.
While the sector remains in a precarious financial position, we feel that the changes raised above will make a tangible difference for our members and represent the government listening to legitimate concerns.
Cllr Carl Smith, LGE Lead member for Local Government Finance, said:
“These changes reflect some of the priorities we raised during the consultation process. Funding simplification and a bespoke formula for Temporary Accommodation will make a real difference for councils in the East of England. However, we continue to press for clarity on how major demand pressures, such as SEND and social care, will be sustainably funded.”