Councils in England Face £6.2 Billion Funding Gap: LGA

The Local Government Association (LGA) said on Friday that Councils in England face a funding gap of £6.2 billion over the next two years. The body, which represents 315 of 317 councils in England, said the only way the next government can solve the issue is to provide “long-term financial certainty” and empower councils. According to the LGA, the funding gap is driven by record numbers of homeless families and children, rising demand pressure and costs of adult social care, and “spiralling costs and pressures for children’s social care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including home-school transport.” The pressures meant funding for everyday services has been squeezed, the LGA said, citing its recent survey that found two-thirds of councils have had to cut services including bin collections, road repairs, and library and leisure services in the current financial year....