Survey of the Impact of the Economic Slowdown on Local Authorities 2008

The survey was conducted by  the LGA Analysis and Research team for the IDeA, LGA and LGE in partnership with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE). The purpose was to establish an early assessment of how the current economic downturn climate is affecting the people and localities that councils serve, and therefore councils themselves.
 
The results provide a start point in building a national picture of how councils are experiencing the impact of economic downturn in their localities on a consistent basis by examining these experiences as we enter an uncertain period of economic austerity.

key findings

The figures show that 73 per cent of councils have had to revise their budget position in the light of the recession. Areas where councils have seen the money they collect drop include:

• 83 per cent of councils seeing a drop in income from fees and charges such as planning applications
• 26 per cent of councils seeing an increase in demand for services such as free school meals
• 24 per cent of councils seeing a drop in income from council tax and rent collection
• 66 per cent of councils seeing a drop in the interest they receive on deposits
• 66 per cent of councils seeing a drop in money received from the sale of assets such as land and buildings
• 39 per cent of councils seeing a drop in expected income from Section 106 agreements

 
Survey of the impact of the economic slowdown on Local Authorities 2008

Contact: stephen.richards@lga.gov.uk 

Telephone: 020 7664 3256