LGA responds to park funding announcement

"Our public parks and green spaces are some of our most cherished local services, and this injection of money will boost councils’ efforts to keep these open and in good condition, despite facing significant funding pressures."


Responding to an announcement of new funding for parks by the Government, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said:

“The LGA has long made the case for the importance of parks and green spaces to people’s health and wellbeing, so we are pleased that government has acknowledged this with this much-needed investment. Our public parks and green spaces are some of our most cherished local services, and this injection of money will boost councils’ efforts to keep these open and in good condition, despite facing significant funding pressures.

“The money local government has to provide vital services such as parks and open spaces is running out fast and huge uncertainty remains about how councils will pay for services into the next decade and beyond.

“With councils in England facing an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025, the forthcoming Spending Review will be make or break for local services and it is vital the Government uses this to put local government on a sustainable footing into the next decade and beyond.”

Notes

The LGA called for government to invest in the Future Parks Accelerator run by the National Trust and National Heritage Lottery Fund, which will enable the fast tracking of new ways to sustainably manage and enhance our parks.  Government’s investment in this is a significant strategic development for the provision of public parks.


Spending Review 2019



Without a sustainable funding, your council can't deliver the essential services that keep your communities running; securing the financial sustainability of local services must be the top priority for the Spending Review later this year.

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