Councils Given Spending Boost to Build Back Better

Councils in England to Share of £54.1bn in Funding Including More than £1bn for Social Care.

Councils in England will have access to a share of £54.1 billion in funding for the coming financial year including more than £1 billion of additional money for social care.

This is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding in 10 years, providing the stability they need to build back better.

This includes a one-off 2022/23 Services Grant worth £822 million for councils to spend as they see fit on local priorities.

The measures confirmed by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove today (7 February 2022), will allow councils to maintain and improve the services they provide, while protecting residents from excessive council tax increases.

Last week’s publication of the Levelling Up white paper set out the government’s bold mission to transform the nation. Councils will be at the forefront of this ambition and we are making sure they have the resources to deliver the vital services their communities need.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Rt Hon Michael Gove said:

Levelling up can only succeed if our local partners have the powers and resources they need to help transform their communities.

Today’s £54.1 billion settlement represents a real terms increase of more than 4.5% from last year and will make sure councils can improve local services, protect vulnerable people and build back better from the pandemic.

The final finance settlement includes:

• More funding for Social Care: The government is making more than £1 billion of additional funding available for social care, ensuring councils can improve conditions for carers and those in need. In addition, £162 million will be allocated to help councils and the social care sector prepare for adult social care reform, ensuring the system is fit for future generations.
• Protecting taxpayers from excessive Council Tax rises: Residents will continue to have the final say over excessive council tax increases. From next year, the amount council tax can be increased without a vote has been reduced to 2%, plus 1% for councils with adult social care responsibilities, with additional flexibilities for some authorities.
• New Homes Bonus: £556 million has been allocated to English councils in 2022/23. This brings the total amount of funding awarded under the New Homes Bonus to £10 billion, which has seen over 2.3 million additional homes being built, of which more than 560,000 are affordable homes. Last year, we published a consultation on the future of the New Homes Bonus and sought views from the sector on a range of issues – from how effective the current scheme has been, to potential changes to how payments are made, ensuring the funding reaches the places that need it most. Our response to the consultation on the New Homes Bonus will be published in the coming months.
• Lower Tier Services Grant: Providing £111 million to councils with responsibility for services such as homelessness, planning, recycling and refuse collection and leisure services. The funding floor has been updated so that no council will have less funding available in 2022/23 than this year.
• Continued support for rural areas: The government recognises that there are often additional cost pressures of serving dispersed populations in rural areas. This is why we are maintaining the Rural Services Delivery Grant at £85 million
• Business Rates Retention pilots: Continuing the 100% Business Rates Retention pilots in Cornwall, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, West Midlands and West of England and 67% Business Rates Retention for London councils, enabling them to control more of the money they raise locally.
• Revenue Support Grant: An uplift to the Revenue Support Grant in line with inflation, worth over £72 million.

Last week, government also confirmed a £150 non-repayable council tax rebate to households in England in Bands A-D to help with rising costs. The rebate to bills will be made directly by councils to households from April. Councils will also have a share of the £144 million discretionary funding that can be used to target additional support at those most in need. Councils are the best placed to do this, which is why the government has given this flexibility.

Responding to the announcement Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said:

“We are pleased that today’s final Local Government Finance settlement confirms previously-announced extra grant funding and council tax raising powers in 2022/23 to help councils meet the extra cost and demand-led pressures they face to keep providing services at pre-pandemic levels. For that to happen, every council would have to raise council tax by the maximum allowed without a referendum at a time when they know how tough things are for many low-income working households.

“However, it is disappointing that the Government has not acted on our call for the final settlement to include further funding to tackle the existing pressures facing our local services, in particular in adult and children’s social care and homelessness support, nor provide investment in vital preventative and early help services. Councils are also increasingly unconvinced that the £5.4 billion allocated for social care through the new Health and Social Care Levy this year will be sufficient to fund adult social care reforms.

“With future years looking challenging, it is crucial that local services have a long-term, sustainable future which gives councils certainty over their funding. This includes the urgent need for clarity from the Government on which local government funding reforms will happen and when.”