Clark's on the money but we're not safe yet

摘要

As the local government finance settlement is finalised, it appears communities secretary Greg Clark has listened - and dug out a bit of extra cash from down the back of the sofa. A transitional fund and some extra cash for rural services has cushioned what looked like a hammer blow for county councils - and it has been done without raiding the coffers of inner London and the northern cities - which will come as a great relief. Normal service has been resumed and we are back to where the settlement should have been. It is hardly a time for celebration, but let's not be churlish. Mr Clark has delivered a lifeline - if not a long-term solution - for councils that were facing a fiscal cliff edge and acknowledged they should hang on to their reserves for a rainy day. So let's be a little grateful.