The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over?

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over? A growing elderly population, increases in the number of disabled adults, and increases in wage and other costs, mean that English councils will likely need billions in extra funding over the next parliament if they are to meet the rising costs of providing adult social care. That will be required just to maintain services at current levels. And councils’ spending on local public services per resident will, next year, still be at least 20% below 2009–10 levels, on average. Institute for Fiscal Studies