As the Budget looms, councils brace for another round of fiscal theatre: ambition applauded, delivery doubtful. But behind the headlines and spreadsheets lies a simple truth, most people experience public services through their council. Politicians neglect this at their peril, and after a generation of underinvestment, the cracks are showing.
So, what should the Budget look like? Well, for starters, it should acknowledge that councils are being asked to juggle flaming torches while blindfolded. The gap between what councils are asked to do and what they're funded to deliver is now structural. Councils shoulder risks in adult social care, children's services, and homelessness without the resources to manage them. The result? A system lurching from crisis to crisis, with Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) routine rather than rare.
