An extra 1.5 billion in adult social care funding from the government “will not touch the sides” says Southwark Council’s finance boss.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced the UK-wide short-term cash in the latest government spending review last Monday in a raft of commitments that, for the first time since 2002, involved no cuts handed to government departments.
The £1.5 billion extra available to local authorities across the country includes a £1 billion new grant, and £500 million through the adult social care precept – funding through allowing council tax rises.
Councillor Victoria Mills said: “Any additional funding for local government is welcome but this new money goes way to addressing the huge loss of funding that Southwark has seen since 2010.
“Years of cuts cannot be redressed in one review and I hope to see further resources being made available to local authorities.
“Additional money for social care and education is particularly welcome but this will not touch the sides of the deficits that some services have run up over recent years.
“Asking us to cope with the growing pressures on social care by levelling additional council tax on residents is also the wrong call – there should be sustained and clear funding for the needs of our most vulnerable residents.”
