NAO report, PWLB accounts, Lancs & Norfolk cuts, Segars heads up LGPS board
0NAO sees continued drop in adult social care spend
Councils’ spending on adult social care ranged from £630 to £2715 per head for 2011/12 according to research from the National Audit Office. London Boroughs spent the most and county councils the least. A total of £9.07bn was spent to support just over a million people and the NAO found that spend per head on adult social care had fallen each year in all types of council since 2006/7.
PWLB 2102/13 accounts published
The Public Works Loan Board saw its interest income nearly half between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Figures issued today show interest income received for the most recent financial year at £2,892m. For 2011-12 this figure had been £4,503m, reflecting £1,722 in early redemption premiums it made from reallocating the debt of local housing authorities. For 2012-13 loans with a principal value of £198m were redeemed early.
Lancs & Norfolk look for massive savings
Lancashire County Council is developing a four-year budget to find savings of £300m, or 38% of the council’s current budget, for 2014-2018. The plan, being developed by a new Cabinet, should be approved in February 2014. Meanwhile Norfolk County Council is looking for another £182m over the next three years as its funding gap increases. Finance head Paul Brittain wrote in a report: “Whilst there had been the hope that the government’s deficit reduction programme with its associated reductions in public spending would now be coming towards its end, it is clear that this is not the case and that, in the absence of stronger economic performance, public spending reductions are likely to continue for the next four to five years at least.”
Segars to chair LGPS board
National Association of Pension Funds chief executive Joanne Segars has been elected chair of the shadow Local Government Pension Scheme advisory board. She takes up the role on July 15 and also remains chief exec of the NAPF. The shadow board helps LGPS schemes and advises the government through five subcommittees to promote best practice.
