Local authorities including Kent, Kirklees, Hampshire, Woking and York among those being forced to slash budgets and community services
following a sharp rise in budget funding gaps for next year, research from a union has found.public services union Unison
Other essential services such as youth centres and adult services are also set to be cut alongside revenues-rising measures such as increasing car parking fees andChristina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, said: “Communities rely on their local authorities for all manner of essential services, such as waste collection, road repairs and parks and other open spaces.
The record combined shortfall totals £3.57bn across councils in the three nations for 2024/25. It means the local authorities will be forced to rely on “virtually non-existent cash reserves”.The research found that the council cash crisis will get even worse in the 2025/26 financial year as funding gaps rise to above £7bn.
Birmingham is looking into job cuts, slashing service budgets and the sale of landmark buildings across the city Other authorities with severe cash shortfalls, according to Unison’s research, are Hampshire County Council on £82m, Sheffield City Council which is short some £72.7m and Bradford City Council has £72m less than it needs.
The union claimed that the scale of the budget shortfalls across local government means a growing number ofHouseholds are also set to be hit by rises in council tax to help bridges council funding gaps, with many authorities seeking to increase bills by the maximum amount permitted by law, added the report.
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