Watchdog highlights cuts concerns
The National Audit Office has today published a report on the impact of government cuts upon local councils, focusing on the level of understanding that the Department for Communities and Local Government has on the issue.
Responding to the report, Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We are pleased that an informed and respected observer such as the National Audit Office has recognised what we have been saying for a long time - central government cuts are placing enormous pressure upon councils and many are struggling to cope with the challenge they face.
“As the NAO says, the Department for Communities and Local Government needs to be looking at this more robustly than has been the case in the past. The DCLG needs to be better informed of the problems we are facing.
“Here in Birmingham we have lobbied extensively – our hope now is that the feedback from an impartial organisation such as the NAO means the issues we have been raising will finally be taken seriously at Westminster.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Our real terms estimate of Birmingham City Council’s core grant reduction from a 2010/11 baseline to 2015/16 is 45 per cent
Our real terms estimate of Birmingham City Council’s spending power reductions (includes council tax income) from a 2010/11 baseline to 2015/16 is 35 per cent
For more media information please contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621
