Council leaders criticise local government funding settlement

The Local Government Association has said that the money the government is to give councils to fund care services over the next three years is insufficient.

The local government funding settlement will see an average grant increase for education and social services of 3.6% in 2008-9 and 2.8% and 2.6% over the following two years.

But the Local Government Association says the increases are significantly below what is needed to keep pace with the growing demand for older people’s care services.

David Rogers, head of the LGA’s community and wellbeing board, said: “There are insufficient resources already but an extra 400,000 people will turn 65 over the next three years making life even harder for councils. I can’t see the trend of tightening eligibility criteria changing as a result of this.”

The settlement included a new £500m grant to implement recommendations in the impending adult social care green paper. It also set out details for moving a number of specific grants – such as for Supporting People – into new area based grants, which by 2010-11 will account for £5.6bn of funding.

More information

Full details of settlement