Figures show councils’ spending in England has fallen by just under 30% over this Parliament.
The data, compiled by DCLG and CIPFA shows that per capita spending will have fallen by 29.1% for 2014-15 compared to the last financial year of the last Parliament (2009-10). These figures are adjusted for inflation to reflect real-terms expenditure, but even in real cash terms we have seen the steep fall of 14.5% where spending levels have reduced to the same level as 2005-06.
These net figures mask spending increases in services to vulnerable people, for example children's social care will increase by 16.4% in 2014-15; and councils deserve credit for investing in better outcomes with public health seeing a 5.5% increase.
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