I would like to take this opportunity to wish all first readers a belated happy new year, and I hope that you had an enjoyable and restful festive break.
After a turbulent 2022, both internationally and domestically, I am sure that I am not alone in hoping for a quieter and more peaceful 2023.
The week before Christmas we had one of the most important events in the local government calendar – the provisional local government finance settlement.
Overall, the settlement was positive, and the 9.2 per cent increase in core spending power will help councils deal with inflationary and other cost pressures.
I also welcome the extra funding for both adult social care and for tackling the most immediate budget pressures in children’s social care.
However, the LGA will continue to make the case to the Government that the underlying financial pressures remain as councils are still facing significant challenges in setting their budgets for 2023/2024.
“The underlying financial pressures remain as councils are still facing significant challenges in setting their budgets”
It is also the case that shire district councils will see a lower core spending power increase next year, which is something that, in our response to the settlement, we asked the Government to address.
Finally, just a reminder to Conservative colleagues that this year’s Conservative Councillors’ Association (CCA) Local Government Conference is taking place on the 24-25 February at the Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire.
The LGA’s Conservative Group will be involved in various events at the conference, including sponsoring the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ ministerial question-and-answer session, and organising workshops on civility in public life and devolution.
For those of you who have not attended the conference before, I would encourage you to do so this year. It always provides a great opportunity for the Conservative local government family to come together, discuss key policy issues, hear from government ministers from a range of departments, get great campaigning advice from senior party figures and network with colleagues from across the country.