MPs warn lack of cash will see 'long slog' after COVID

摘要

A 'chronic' lack of funding for council services amid soaring demand means many communities face a 'long slog' out of the COVID-19 pandemic, MPs warned yesterday. The Public Accounts Committee report said that, despite 'much-heralded' Whitehall investment in specific local government programmes, the sector was still ￡8.4bn annually worse off than before the austerity drive of 2010-11 began - and dealing with far higher demand. MPs concluded there was a 'real risk' that local government will merely be able to 'stand still' - and 'not address the significant service pressures and risks which have built up as their funding fell in real terms by over 50% in the decade'. The report also warned that council plans to address their financial woes - such as buying properties for income - 'do not always go to plan.. .and in some cases led directly to the failure of local authorities'.