So much of the wellbeing of our communities depends on effective neighbourhood-level services. Clean and green public spaces contribute immeasurably to health and wellbeing. Waste and recycling are crucial for public hygiene and the local environment. Litter on streets is a bigger talking point in many a local pub than geopolitics.

Neighbourhood services have been a focus of the Association for Public Service Excellence’s (APSE) work for decades. Our data analysis found that between 2010-2011 and 2015-2016 neighbourhood service spending had fallen by over £3.1bn. We called for a reinstatement of funding levels to restore neighbourhood service spending, not least to address the decline in some of the poorest areas with cuts reaching 50%. Subsequent Budgets have nudged the dial but in no way reversed the decline.