Last week the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities gave local authorities a glimpse of what was to come with the publication of the local government finance policy statement for 2024-25. The policy statement took some of the mystery out of the settlement, due just before Christmas, giving everyone in the sector a long-awaited glimpse at what they might be able to unwrap from the Department as a Christmas gift. However, as has been in previous years, local government can expect yet another pair of socks for Christmas, rather than something new and shiny. This was especially disappointing as Michael Gove had hinted previously that there would be much to unwrap from under the tree.

The early indication of what to expect in the settlement is welcome (although not as welcomed as an early settlement would have been), yet the contents of the policy statement are somewhat underwhelming. After the Autumn Statement failed to produce anything for local government, the policy statement confirmed sector fears that there is no new money for the sector at a time when many are near breaking point.