Local government leaders have told central government to fund them realistically – or be honest with the public about the future of public services. In its submission to The Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, the Local Government Association has asked for the return of the business rate to local control, three-year financial settlements, and a ‘significant share' of public expenditure. LGA chair Lord Bruce-Lockhart said that, over the past decade, council funding had risen by just 14% while the NHS had received an extra 90%. He said he was calling for a 4% increase in grant support to cover the cost of extra statutory burdens being faced by councils – including just 1% to cover inflation. The association has also called on the government to recognise council efficiency savings – but to remove long-term contracts with fixed prices from the 3% efficiency targets. Lord Bruce-Lockhart added: ‘That is fine if you are running a government department with 3,000 civil servants. But if you are in local government you don't control all the expenditure.'
