Title

SOCIAL CARE

Two-thirds of councils to cut neighbourhood services

Community services will have to be ‘drastically scaled back’ or cut altogether without further funding for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.

Community services will have to be ‘drastically scaled back' or cut altogether without further funding for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.

A survey by the LGA found 85% of local authorities will have to make cuts to balance their 2024-25 budget.

Of councils with social care functions, three-quarters said cost savings would be needed in their adult social care budget and 69% expected cuts in children's social care.

The LGA said protecting social care from deeper cuts was having a knock-on effect on other services, with two-thirds of councils warning that communities will be hit by cuts to neighbourhood services this year.

LGA chair Shaun Davies said: ‘Extra Government funding will help councils this year but acute funding pressures remain and are forcing many councils to make stark choices about what popular services to cut.'

Councils surveyed said cuts would affect libraries, parks and green spaces, sport, leisure and cultural services.

SOCIAL CARE

Councils can't deliver better public understanding of AI without resource

By Susan Oman | 10 April 2026

Better AI awareness is needed both inside and beyond the council in its communities, says Susan Oman.

SOCIAL CARE

Putting prevention first

By Matthew Ashton | 09 April 2026

Prof Matthew Ashton says investing in our communities and places, and delivering on the promise of prevention, are key to reversing the rising levels of illn...

SOCIAL CARE

From spreadsheets to services: How Fair Funding is starting to reach communities

By Sally Jameson | 09 April 2026

Having worked hard to secure the Fair Funding Settlement, the responsibility now is to show clearly how it will be used on the ground, says Sally Jameson.

SOCIAL CARE

Government accused of 'failing to deliver' on council tax modernisation

By Dan Peters | 09 April 2026

The Government has been accused of ‘failing to deliver’ on plans to modernise and improve the administration of council tax.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames