Government should heed report’s call and fund councils properly

Select Committee report urges Government to support councils

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Commenting on the report on council funding published today (Wednesday) by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“Local councils are in a bad way and the blame lies solely at the government’s door. With funding in short supply, local authorities have had to cut back services substantially, or axe them altogether.

“While the Prime Minister has pledged cash for police, schools and the NHS, struggling councils need help now.

“Local authorities still have no idea of their budgets for the next financial year, making it impossible to plan. Yet if the country plunges off a Brexit cliff, it’s under pressure councils that’ll have to pick up the pieces.

“The government must give councils resources now, and allow them to borrow and raise more income locally so they can start to repair the damage of a decade of austerity.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk

Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk