Benefits uplift should be made permanent
Thousands of families rely on universal credit to pay for day-to-day essentials including food, clothing and utilities.
Thousands of families rely on universal credit to pay for day-to-day essentials including food, clothing and utilities.
Just before lockdown in March, we were due to consider a motion on approving the Councils for Fair Tax Declaration. We wanted Trafford to be an early endorser of a growing movement that is standing up for responsible corporation tax conduct.
Talking about debt is never an easy subject to broach, especially during a global pandemic, when debts may be held by the vulnerable or those under significant financial strain.
The Chancellor has decided to only conduct a one-year Spending Review in order to prioritise the response to COVID-19, and focus on immediate support to create jobs.
The final local government finance settlement for 2021/22, which was laid before Parliament in February, confirmed that councils will receive a share of £51.3 billion in funding (a 4.6 per cent increase in cash terms).
A funding increase for councils will be dependent on them increasing council tax bills.
Councils in England face a £2 billion funding gap in the current financial year and could be forced to cut services if the Government does not meet the cost of soaring COVID-19 spending, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned.
With a Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) under way, I have been writing to ministers on behalf of the LGA’s member councils.
Another week, another U-turn – this time, the botched A-level results saga. And a government that claims to be ‘levelling up’ has proved once again that this is just one more empty slogan to add to the pile.
Securing the long-term sustainability of local services must be the top priority of the Government’s 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review, the LGA has said.