Briefings and responses

Our Spring Budget 2024 on-the-day briefing summarises the key announcements for councils and provides an initial LGA view.

This consultation follows on from proposals originally made in 2021 to which we responded, and a further post consultation survey on revised proposed regulations that we also responded to. The proposals made in the current consultation have taken account of the comments we made in response to those earlier consultations and it is clear that the aim of the revised regulations and guidance is to avoid the potential problems with drafting in the original proposals that we and others in the sector highlighted. This is to be welcomed.

The LGA's response to the Government's consultation on Non-investment Asset Valuation for Financial Reporting Purposes - Exposure Draft

The LGA is calling for the Government to ensure that all councils have sufficient funding to deliver their 2023/24 budgets, set balanced budgets for 2024/25 and develop medium-term financial strategies that are not characterised by substantial funding gaps.

The current flexible use of capital receipts scheme, which has run since 2016/17 and has now been extended until March 2030, has been welcomed by councils.

The current Household Support Fund (HSF), which contributed £840 million to English councils’ provision of local welfare support in 2023/24, is set to end on 31 March 2024.

Despite welcome new funding announced in the 2022 Autumn Statement, a combination of sharply increasing cost and demand pressures means that the sector is in a parlous financial position. Much-valued services, frequently focused on the most vulnerable in society, are under pressure and at risk. Additional government support is needed urgently to ensure local financial and service sustainability.

The evidence of the financial strain on councils has been growing. The settlement does not provide enough funding to meet the severe cost and demand pressures which have left councils of all political colours and types warning of the serious challenges they face to set balanced budgets next year. Councils in England continue to face a funding gap of £4 billion across this year and next. The 2024/25 provisional settlement does not change the funding gap facing councils.

The evidence of the financial strain on councils has been growing and today’s settlement does not provide enough funding to meet the severe cost and demand pressures which have left councils of all political colours and types warning of the serious challenges they face to set balanced budgets next year.

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data sharing exercise has been supported by local authorities for several decades now. It has an important place in counter fraud activities, as well as work to recover and reduce error and debt.