Chancellor’s ‘no return to austerity’ pledge may be little comfort for councils

Rachel Reeves’ promise will not assist native authorities a lot if they’re nonetheless left with out enough funding, writes chief reporter Caitlin Webb.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised the Labour social gathering convention this afternoon there will likely be “no return to austerity” however relying on the way you outline it, there hasn’t been austerity for over six years for councils – but they’ve nonetheless been feeling the stress.

Whereas it has not essentially felt that approach – and there’s no single agreed definition of austerity – some would argue it led to 2016-17, as a result of since then native authority core spending energy has elevated in money phrases yearly. Or some would make the case for 2019-20, since when core spending energy has elevated in actual phrases yearly, a minimum of if inflation is measured utilizing the GDP deflator.

Ms Reeves’ phrases might have gleamed with a way of optimism, however when paired with rhetoric round “powerful decisions” within the face of a “blackhole” and debt the shine dulled considerably.

If this promise to not return to austerity is solely a ‘fast win’ or straightforward spin, it will not assist native authorities in the way in which their residents actually need. Their black gap, in response to the Native Authorities Affiliation, is £6.2bn and because the begin of austerity in 2010, they’ve made an estimated £24.5bn in service cuts to steadiness the books.

But Rachel Reeves does not need to steadiness her books – central authorities has the posh of with the ability to spend outdoors of its means, however the Labour social gathering has made a political option to be prudent by following “fiscal guidelines”.

Contemplating their discuss round how badly the earlier authorities handed the general public funds, a minimum of they aren’t making the political option to be hypocrites.

Throughout her speech, Ms Reeves warned how public sector debt within the UK is now equal to 100% of GDP for the primary time since month-to-month data started, one thing she blamed the earlier authorities for. However she additionally criticised the Conservatives for making guarantees “they didn’t funds for” and “mismanaging the general public funds,” and made a promise to “not make these errors”.

Whereas the chancellor pledged to not enhance taxes for “working folks” within the face of this financial “inheritance,” she is promising to “overhaul” enterprise charges, which she claims is “outdated”. Nevertheless, alongside council tax it makes up native authorities’ largest supply of earnings, so except councils obtain a minimum of as a lot from the overhaulled system as now, working folks might lose extra of the companies they depend on.

Whereas the chancellor pledged to not add additional to the debt, she has paved the way in which for a rise in capital funding as “development is the problem and funding is the answer”. Her view is that “low funding feeds decline” and claims the Treasury focuses an excessive amount of on “counting the price” with out recognising “the advantages too”.

This may very well be a style of what’s to come back in subsequent month’s Price range, one thing which could quench some thirst of a public sector that has “crumbling” buildings and never sufficient social housing.

“This Price range will likely be a funds for financial development; will probably be a funds for funding,” Ms Reeves stated. “My ambition is aware of no limits, as a result of I can see the prize on supply if we make the correct decisions now.”

Her “formidable” guarantees to not return to austerity might turn out to be a actuality beneath a technicality as she will not be returning to the dimensions of spending cuts 14 years in the past, however a big money injection is required to fund native authorities sufficiently.

The chancellor may ship a rise in real-term core spending energy in October however nonetheless depart councils having to make powerful choices themselves.