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

Ofsted set to punish councils for unregistered children's homes

By Joe Lepper | 03 July 2026

Ofsted is looking to use future inspections to penalise councils that use illegal unregistered children’s care homes.

SOCIAL CARE

LGA warns of £7bn funding black hole for sector

By Paul Marinko | 03 July 2026

The Local Government Association (LGA) has thrown down the gauntlet to a likely Burnham-led government with warnings the sector faces a £7bn funding black hole.

SOCIAL CARE

Should health, care and local government departments merge?

By Christopher Exeter | 03 July 2026

With Andy Burnham poised to become Prime Minister and launch what could be a radical restructure of public services, Christopher Exeter looks back a hundred ...

SOCIAL CARE

Cultural uses: From estate to asset

By Dan Buck | 02 July 2026

Dan Buck looks at how culture can unlock new income for public bodies.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames