Title

HIGHWAYS

England's poorest areas hardest hit by austerity

Residents living in England’s most deprived areas were hit hardest by the largest local authority spending cuts during a decade of austerity, a think-tank has found.

Residents living in England's most deprived areas were hit hardest by the largest local authority spending cuts during a decade of austerity, a think-tank has found.

A new report from the Institute for Government (IfG) revealed how grant cuts and the rising demand for social care shrunk the scope of local government in England.

The IfG found the most grant-dependent and deprived areas such as Birmingham, Lambeth and Salford were more likely to make deeper cuts to neighbourhood services.

For example, deprived areas were more likely to report reductions in bus routes and libraries.

The think-tank added the Government lacks information on two-thirds of neighbourhood services spending.

HIGHWAYS

EXCLUSIVE: Rising temporary accommodation bill fuelled by B&B exodus

By Dan Peters | 26 March 2026

The amount of money spent by councils in the capital on the most expensive type of emergency temporary accommodation (TA) almost doubled in a year, figures s...

HIGHWAYS

Reducing reliance on temporary housing

By Naisha Polaine | 26 March 2026

Councils are still placing record numbers into short-term housing, but local authorities like Barnet LBC are now attempting to take back some control, explai...

HIGHWAYS

Now it's time to seize the initiative

By Simon Kaye | 25 March 2026

Simon Kaye sees an opportunity for a sceptical sector to push hard for further devolution.

HIGHWAYS

The overnight visitor levy could be a gamechanger for growing tourism in London

By Cllr Claire Holland | 24 March 2026

Claire Holland says the overnight visitor levy must benefit London’s local services and help drive growth, and individual boroughs should keep at least half ...

Popular articles by William Eichler