London councils see budgets slashed
0London councils have seen their budgets slashed by 17% per head over the past eight years, according to analysis by think tank Centre for London.
In a new report, the body analysed government spending data, and found that inner London boroughs have been hit the hardest by cuts.
Planning and development budgets have been cut by 59% since 2010/11, with highways and transport seeing a 54% fall and cultural activities being cut by 42%.
Silviya Barrett, research manager at Centre for London said: “London boroughs, like other urban authorities across the country, have shown great ingenuity in adapting to hard hitting cuts, but they are running out of road.
“There are also concerns that the forthcoming Fair Funding Review will affect the longer-term funding allocations of those councils that have seen the biggest cuts.”
Inner London boroughs saw the biggest cuts over the period, with Westminster (-32 per cent), Newham (-30%), Tower Hamlets (-29%), Hackney (-28%), Camden (-25%) and Wandsworth (-25%) all seeing cuts of 25 per cent per head or above.
Just two councils, Barnet (+1%) and Kensington and Chelsea (+10%) saw increases over the last eight years.
Peter John OBE, chair of London Councils, said: “Boroughs cannot deal with austerity for much longer. It is time for government to listen to our concerns.
“The Spending Review later this year must seriously address the sustainability of vital local services.”
