Osborne’s 2013 spending review: key points for local government
With a wonderful sense of irony the Chancellor has described Eric Pickles as a model “lean” minister. The outcome of the spending review announced today explains why. This article tells us:
Chancellor George Osborne has announced where cuts will be made in 2015-16. Osborne said that Britain was moving out of intensive care and from “rescue to recovery”. Here we round up the key points for local government:
• £3bn capital investment in affordable housing.
• £3bn from the NHS budget to fund joint commissioning of health and social care.
• The size of the Department for Communities and Local Government has been cut back by 60% and Osborne described Eric Pickles as “a model of lean government”. Pickles has agreed a further 10% reduction in resource budget.
• The council tax freeze, due to be lifted next April, is now to be extended over the next two years.
• £200m extra funding will be provided for the Troubled Families initiative
• Councils in the South West will be given funding to cut high water bills by £50 per household every year until 2015.
• Osborne voiced his commitment to devolved power and responsibility for local government, saying that public satisfaction with local services had increased under this government despite spending cuts.
• Plans were announced for the transfer of money from central government and town halls to schools, giving them more autonomy over education and ending local disparity.
• The chancellor said that the government would commit to joined-up health and social care between councils and the NHS. He added that local government would be given “more flexibility over assets”.