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FINANCE

The centre must tackle the challenges still faced by counties and unitaries

The Government’s decision to pay the bulk of SEND deficits is a relief, but sensible decisions on reorganisation are crucial to delivering substantial savings to reinvest in services, says Cllr Matthew Hicks.

© Suffolk CC

It may not have felt like it for many with so much going on in Westminster, but Monday was a monumental day for local authorities in England.

For the first time in a decade, councils received an updated assessment of their spending needs and resources alongside a multi-year settlement. If that was not enough, we also got a resolution to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits issue, with debts to March 2026 cleared.

Popular articles by Cllr Matthew Hicks

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