At times, it can be difficult to understand how events in Westminster impact people day-to-day in Hitchin & Harpenden - the high drama and grand visions of Parliamentary politics can seem abstract at the best of times.
However, there are times when the link between local and national are clearer. This week, the Government has announced additional measures for local authorities, worth £600 million. This includes £500 million of new funding for councils with responsibility for adults and children's social care, distributed through the Social Care Grant.
Taking into account this new funding, local government in England will see an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion next year, an above-inflation increase, rising from £60.2 billion in 2023-24 to £64.7 billion in 2024-25. That means even more money for councils to deliver services for local people - in particular, bread-and-butter basics like bin collections, social care provision, and keeping our communities clean, tidy, and well-tended.
The Government has also committed to improving the local government finance system beyond this settlement, on the basis of consultations between the Minister for Local Government and the sector. In doing so, we're aiming to make local government finances more stable in the long-term, making it easier for councils to remain solvent while also delivering for you.
This funding uplift, and our long-term commitment to improving local government solvency, is a sign of our commitment to politics at its most local, grassroots level. For most people, local government has a greater impact on the day-to-day than national government - that's why getting it right here in Hertfordshire is so important to me, and why I'm delighted to welcome the Government's pledge of additional funding and support for our councils.
