91Èȱ¬

91Èȱ¬ research of local councils in England suggests a divided country when it comes to spending on social care.

The research, conducted in association with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), maps the effect of local authority finances on local services following the Government's Spending Review.

It was designed to establish a like for like measure of the levels of spending for 2011/12 across all local authorities. Out of 352 councils, 268 replied to questions about their planned expenditure for this coming financial year.

The research suggests that, of those councils who replied, spending on adult social care in the Midlands and the North will fall by 4.7% this financial year (Adult Social Care includes spending on things such as adults with learning disabilities, home care, residential care placements, assessments, management and services not just for those over 65 but those below that age with care needs).

However, in the South spending on Adult Social Care will go up by 2.7% (£3.261bn to £3.335).

Overall, total social care budgets of the 73 councils in this sample that are responsible for Social Care services are being cut by approximately 2.6% (£9.798bn to £9.540bn). Some adult services have been incorporated into housing or leisure plans in some areas. Other councils are transferring functions and roles to other authorities.

As well as making cuts to the Adult Social Care budget some councils are increasing charges and raising the eligibility criteria for services.

Social Care for children is being cut in both the North and South, though in the South by half as much.

It equates to a 7.4% reduction in Child Social Care in the Midlands and the North and a 3.5% cut in the South.

The government has set up an independent commission into the funding of social care, which is due to report in July.

Also from the survey:

• Cultural and related (including libraries) spending will decrease by 10.25% from 2010/11 (£1.101bn to £0.989bn)
• Environmental spending will be lower by 3.7% (£1.840bn to £1.771bn)
• Education spending will fall over 2011/12 by 11.40% (£1.640bn to £1.453bn)

Controller of 91Èȱ¬ English Regions, David Holdsworth, said: "Information about cuts, savings and reductions in local budgets has been a regular narrative of 2011. This survey provides audiences with a snapshot of how each local authority intends to implement its savings using a direct comparison with last year.

"Our local radio teams, alongside regional and network TV colleagues will be assessing the story and context behind those figures to see how each council is coping in this new financial climate."

CIPFA Director of Policy and Technical, Ian Carruthers, said: "This survey provides the first overview of levels of council expenditure. In light of the spending cuts, balancing council budgets has been incredibly tough for finance directors and no individual council service is exempt from the pressure to make cuts. Councils are clearly trying to meet the needs of their communities but people will have to get used to receiving less from their local council."

Notes to Editors

It is a condition of using this research data that you use the following information in your copy:

Council Spending: Making it Clear is a 91Èȱ¬/CIPFA assessment of council spend across England for local radio, regional and network TV and 91Èȱ¬ online.

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