The Local Government Information Unit has today published its 2020 State of Local Government Finance report. It shows near universal disappointment amongst councils (97%) in the Government’s progress in delivering a sustainable funding system for local government.

The report also shows that:

• Confidence in the sustainability of local government finance remains very low, with three quarters (74%) of councils saying they do not feel confident.
• 1 in 10 councils (12%) say they are in danger of being unable to fulfil statutory duties this year
• Productivity in providing publicly funded social care has declined by over 9% since 1997.
• 98% of the senior decision-makers responding to the survey said they were disappointed in the Government’s progress in delivering a long-term social care strategy.
• Adult social care remains the top long-term pressure.

Commenting on the findings, Emily Holzhausen OBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK said:

“Councils are saying it loud and clear: the Government’s progress in delivering a long-term strategy for social care – which we have been waiting years for - has not been good enough.

“As we wait for a strategy, millions of older and disabled people are going without the quality services they need, and family members caring for them are having to pick up the pieces at a huge personal cost.

"We cannot afford to wait any longer. The Prime Minister must use the Budget to deliver additional short term funding for social care, and bring forward plans for long-term, sustainable funding so that families are no longer pushed into ill-health and poverty.”