The final local government funding settlement for 2020/21, laid before Parliament in February, confirmed that councils will receive a share of £49.2 billion in funding (a 4.4 per cent real terms increase).
This includes an additional £1.5 billion for social care, which represents a significant lobbying ‘win’ for the LGA.
“This new money allows councils to proactively support some of our most vulnerable people”
One of the most important policy areas that the overall increase in funding will support is the work that councils across the country do to support rough sleepers and prevent rough sleeping.
No-one should have to sleep rough and it was particularly encouraging that funding for the Rough Sleeping Initiative has been increased to £112 million. This new money will help pay for up to 6,000 new bed spaces and 2,500 support staff to put rough sleepers into safe accommodation, thus allowing councils to proactively support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Following the recent reshuffle, I am delighted that Robert Jenrick MP was re-appointed as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and that Luke Hall MP remains the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
I would also like to congratulate Simon Clarke MP and Christopher Pincher MP on their respective appointments as Minister of State and Minister for Housing at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
I have written to all MHCLG ministers following the reshuffle and am especially looking forward to meeting new ministers to discuss how the LGA can support them in their roles.
I would also like to congratulate Rishi Sunak MP, who just a few months ago was an MHCLG minister, on his appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Having only been elected in 2015, Rishi has enjoyed a truly meteoric rise to one of the great offices of state in less than five years.
We had a very good relationship with Rishi when he was at MHCLG and having also written to him to congratulate him on his promotion, I look forward to working with him ahead of the Budget to secure the best possible deal for local government.