Local Government Response to the Budget 2009

Author: Localis   |   21/05/2009

Localis carried out a survey of 50 Local Authority Leaders, Directors and Chief Executives from the 6^th to the 19^th May 2009 to find out opinions and responses from leading figures of local government to the Budget 2009. The respondents were made up of 65% District Councils, 12% Metropolitan Borough, 8% Unitary, 6% County and 8% Other. The respondents reflect Councils from across the England and Wales and with a balance of political control. The following document represents as truly as we can represent, the findings of the survey.

Some of the findings include:

• 78% of respondents thought that the Budget was bad for Local Government
• 80% thought that the Budget should have recognised a Greater role for Councils in dealing with the recession
• Only 35% of respondents were positive about statutory city regions
• 60% of District Councils believe that efficiency savings were not possible compared to only 12% for all other types of Council
• The departments most likely to be affected by calls for efficiency savings are: Back Office, Leisure Services, Environmental Services and Community Services
• 65% of respondents thought that the target to get workless under 25s into work after 12 months was probably or definitely not achievable.