To guarantee that councils in England can continue to provide essential frontline services, Leveling Up Secretary Michael Gove unveiled today (19 December 2022) a nearly £60 billion package for councils in England for the next financial year.
As the government continues to support behind councils and public services in the face of financial challenges, the settlement means that councils throughout England will benefit from an additional £5 billion, a 9% increase on last year's settlement.
Each council in England will get at least a 3% rise in core spending power as part of the agreement for the following year, before any local choices are made about council tax. Along with this, the government has today confirmed a new £100 million scheme for councils to safeguard the most vulnerable households from council tax rises, making good on a promise made in the manifesto to shield local taxpayers from excessive increases.
An additional £2 billion in grant money for both adult and pediatric social care will be made available in 2023/24 as part of the government's commitment to making social care a priority. NHS England will also receive £300 million to help increase capacity through more rapid patient discharge.
The government has responded to councils' requests for more predictability by defining funding for the next two years, extending the horizon to 2024/25. This will provide municipal governments the stability they need to make long-term plans.
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