Why councils are on the brink – and how they can be pulled back
UNISON
© Drs Producoes via Getty Images
Why councils are on the brink – and how they can be pulled back
Everyone knows why councils are on the brink of bankruptcy – a massive 41 % cut in government funding over a decade , while demand for services has grown . But there is an alternative for a sustainable future for the local services we all rely on .
With local elections coming up across the UK , local government is in the news . But not for the right reasons .
The Daily Mail asks ‘ Is your council about to go bust ?’ The Mirror tells us that every single local authority , bar one , is experiencing cuts to funding . And The Guardian reports that councils are resorting to crowdfunding to maintain their schools .
We hear about the youth clubs that have closed and the Christmas lights that won ’ t be switched on . Each day there ’ s news that another council can ’ t balance the books , more services are being cut or closed down and jobs are on the line .
And every single cut and closure has an impact . It ’ s not surprising that councils are on the brink of bankruptcy . They ’ ve faced 13 years of significant reductions to their funding .
By 2019 , councils had 41 % less government income than they did in 2010 ; all this while demand for services is growing .
There are more people who need social care , more young people who need extra support in schools , more people who don ’ t even have a home to live in .
UNISON ’ s research shows the extent of these cuts . Over 1,000 council-operated youth centres have closed . Even more council operated children and family centres have closed since 2010 .
46 OTnews April 2024