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Budget reaction The LGiU think-tank warned the unprecedented level of cuts could have a deep impact on communities. Andy Sawford, chief executive, said: ‘Protecting the health budget while expecting local authorities to make 25% cuts will impact on vital social care services, and other public health provision, which could, in the long term, lead to poorer health and a greater burden on the public purse.' The chancellor's decision to give new businesses in the rest of the UK tax breaks has been described as a ‘slap in the face' by council leaders in the South East. ‘This is a slap in the face for our entrepreneurs who face an even stiffer uphill struggle from now on,' said Southend BC deputy leader, Cllr John Lamb. ‘All new businesses should be on a level playing field.' Charities called for more detail from the Government on what their role would be. Neil Cleeveley, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action's director of policy and communications, said: ‘When the state retreats from providing services, the voluntary and community sector fills the gap. That's why we need to know the Government's plans for the ‘Big society."' The public sector recession has started with a bang, according to consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers. The firm's head of public sector, Jon Sibson, said: ‘Although it might not feel like it, the emergency budget could have been a lot tougher. Public sector leaders should exploit the shock which their organisations will be experiencing to introduce turnaround programmes.' Howard Farrand, president of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), warned that the housing crisis was set to deepen. He said: ‘My biggest fear is that we're reaching a time that equates social renting with broken Britain.'

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FINANCE

Budget reaction

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