Autumn Statement leaves borough unable to plan a long-term future

The Autumn statement was a missed opportunity to address the financial crisis that councils up and down the country find themselves in after years of Government cuts to core funding.

Here in Royal Greenwich our budgets have been cut by 53% since 2010. These cuts have happened at a time when the cost of living crisis and pressures on social care budgets and temporary accommodation have already seen several councils go bust.  

What councils needed to hear yesterday was a long-term plan for greater certainty around our funding to deal with these very real issues. However, once again the Government missed the opportunity of throwing local councils a lifeline to protect the vital local services that people depend upon every day.