London council budgets “on the brink”
0Council budgets in London are “on the brink of crisis” according to lobby group London Councils.
In a new campaign, the body is calling on the government to use the next Spending Review as a chance to put local government on a long-term sustainable footing.
It is calling for an overall increase in funding for local government, sufficient funding for children’s services, adult social care and homelessness to meet demand, and a reform of local taxes.
Peter John, chair of London Councils, said: “Investment in preventative work by councils represents a better use of public money overall than paying for costly failure.
“Central government must recognise this.
“If government fails to act now it risks destabilising the essential public services that councils provide, harming vulnerable people and putting pressure on other public services such as the NHS, schools and the police.
“Many council budgets are already on the brink.”
