Title

HIGHWAYS

England's poorest areas hardest hit by austerity

Residents living in England’s most deprived areas were hit hardest by the largest local authority spending cuts during a decade of austerity, a think-tank has found.

Residents living in England's most deprived areas were hit hardest by the largest local authority spending cuts during a decade of austerity, a think-tank has found.

A new report from the Institute for Government (IfG) revealed how grant cuts and the rising demand for social care shrunk the scope of local government in England.

The IfG found the most grant-dependent and deprived areas such as Birmingham, Lambeth and Salford were more likely to make deeper cuts to neighbourhood services.

For example, deprived areas were more likely to report reductions in bus routes and libraries.

The think-tank added the Government lacks information on two-thirds of neighbourhood services spending.

HIGHWAYS

Council tax harmonisation warning

By Dan Peters | 13 August 2026

Local authorities heading towards reorganisation face a lose-lose scenario on how to harmonise varying council tax bills, a finance director has warned.

HIGHWAYS

The severed links in health and care integration

By Martin Ford | 06 August 2026

Despite recognition of the benefits of closer integration between health and social care, recent months have seen a flurry of breakups in partnerships betwee...

HIGHWAYS

Total Place: Still all about leadership

By Stephen Taylor | 29 July 2026

Stephen Taylor and Max Wide reflect on the lessons from Total Place 1.0 and the implications for Total Place 2.0 and conclude the need for bold, mature, cons...

HIGHWAYS

Will Burnham's drive to build homes be successful?

By David Blackman | 28 July 2026

Like several Prime Ministers before him, Andy Burnham has pledged to build new homes. That will not happen without local authorities and they have been out o...

Popular articles by William Eichler