Title

FINANCE

Public services in 'dire state'

No public services are performing better than before the pandemic and satisfaction with councils has dropped, a report has found.

No public services are performing better than before the pandemic and satisfaction with councils has dropped, a report has found.

The Institute for Government's (IfG) annual public services stocktake found satisfaction with councils fell to 60% in 2023 and has declined by 11% since 2012.

But workforce pressures mean councils may struggle to improve performance and satisfaction levels, with the number of local authority staff dropping by 23.8% between 2012 and 2023.

The IfG found councils have experienced increased demand for libraries, including for use as warm spaces, and for homelessness support but have struggled to provide appropriate accommodation.

It said ‘limited progress' had been made in reducing the backlog of road maintenance and planning applications and there had been little meaningful change in the proportion of waste recycled.

The report described a continuing reliance on a ‘crisis-cash-repeat' model in adult social care, with spending still well above pre-pandemic levels.

In children's social care it found a sector grappling with record vacancy rates and the first decline in overall numbers of social workers in a decade.

IfG programme director and report author Nick Davies said: ‘Public services are in a dire state and will likely deteriorate further if whoever forms the next government sticks to current spending plans.

‘Improvements are possible but difficult decisions will be necessary to break out of the negative cycle of short-termism that has characterised government decision making, particularly in recent years.'

FINANCE

Reorganisation 'gives opportunity to embed Procurement Act'

By Emily Twinch | 25 July 2025

Councils needs to have a ‘laser-like’ focus on procurement and should use reorganisation to embed the Procurement Act, a trade body has urged.

FINANCE

Planning for the future of planning

By Dr Wei Yang | 24 July 2025

Dr Wei Yang presents the case for investing in tools that improve transparency, efficiency and inclusivity, to support a modernised planning system fit for t...

FINANCE

Let the electorate decide what they are willing to pay for

By Heather Jameson | 24 July 2025

'Fiscal devolution – particularly for council tax – has a lot going for it', says Heather Jameson.

FINANCE

Balancing need with investment

By Angela Holden | 24 July 2025

Angela Holden previews the findings of a new report from the Regulator of Social Housing and sets out the key lessons for both housing associations and counc...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames