Budget 2016

Our 'On the Day' briefing for local government


Key Messages

The Chancellor has rightly recognised the funding pressures facing councils and local services over the next few years and has not announced any more cuts to local government.

Councils now need a period of financial stability and consistency so they can plan for the pressures facing local services which lie ahead over the next few years and need to be protected from any more funding cuts during this Parliament. This, alongside greater power to run local services, is essential.

The devolution deals announced rightly recognised the economic potential of all areas. A total of 34 devolution proposals – from cities, towns and counties have been submitted across England. These new deals and extensions to existing deals must signal the return to the early momentum in which similar deals were announced last year. This will clearly require different approaches to different areas, including how these areas are governed.

It is vital that we concentrate on the quality of education and a school's ability to deliver the best results for children, rather than on the legal status of a school, to make sure that we are providing the education and support needed in each area. The LGA is opposed to forced academisation of schools, and Ofsted has rated 82 per cent of council maintained schools as good or outstanding.