The spending round for 2015/16 is now under way and it is clear that protections will remain in place for schools, health and international development. Recent media reports suggest this could mean cuts of a further 10% for all non-protected areas, of which local government forms a very large chunk. It is neither whingeing nor exaggeration to say that some councils will not be able to fulfil their statutory obligations with further grant reductions of such magnitude.
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