- Media & Campaigns
- Press releases
- March 2010
- LGA heralds recognition of councils' vital role in adult care White Paper
- Winter weather review announced - councils respond
- Total Place report an important first step to better local services that cost less - LGA
- Potholes being fixed at record rate - LGA
- Chancellor announces £100m for potholes - councils respond
- LGA responds to council tax announcement
- LGA calls for councils to be 'freed from out-dated rules' on libraries
- LGA responds to Shelter research on housing
- Councils respond to landfill bans
- LGA response to Ed Balls announcement on child social work
- CAA costs 'are climbing' for some, LGA warns
- Councils seek freedom to build up to 500,000 new homes
- Councils respond to Audit Commission report
- Councils already alert to the problem of school admission fraud
- School admissions system stable despite increased pressure because of the recession
- New list published of 250 words the public sector shouldn't use
- Child protection reforms risk weakening safety net, LGA warns
- Microchips in bins - response to Big Brother Watch report
- Councils respond to Taxpayers Alliance pensions report
- Local Innovation Awards announced
- Early research findings show growing need for more social workers
- BBC poll shows tough times ahead for councils
- Delay to personal care at home implementation will ensure efficient service from day one - LGA
BBC poll shows tough times ahead for councils
LGA media release - 1 March 2010
Commenting on the BBC survey on council spending cuts, Dame Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:
“Whoever wins the next election, local authorities and other parts of the public sector know they face the prospect of having to do more with less. A spending slowdown will inevitably mean tough decisions have to be taken, but councils will do everything they can to protect frontline services.
“In tough financial times, democratically elected councils have a vital role to play to ensure that people still get the services they demand and deserve. Countless organisations are involved in delivering services to local areas, and there is scope to make big savings in public spending without affecting the frontline.
“Local government is already the most efficient part of the public sector, achieving billions of pounds worth of savings and consistently outperforming government targets. Councils will continue to make more savings where they can and be as efficient as possible, but this is a challenge all parts of the public sector will have to rise to as well.”
On possible job cuts in local government, Dame Margaret said:
“Councils are being hit by a perfect storm caused by the recession. Sources of income have dropped sharply at a time when more and more people are turning to councils to help them through tough times.
“Local government is feeling the effect of recession in exactly the same way as hard pressed homeowners and families. Low interest rates mean councils are much less able to rely on their savings, plummeting house and land prices have hit hard and income from leisure centres and a range of other services has fallen.
"Town halls have been swept by the cold winds of recession for more than a year and that means difficult choices have to be made. Up and down the country many councils feel they have to take the decision to cut jobs in response.”
Author: LGA Media Team
Contact: LGA media Office, Tel: 020 7664 3333
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