County Council welcomes Government’s £600m cash boost

The Levelling Up Secretary has announced a £600m support package for councils across England, in addition to the outlined provisional settlement funding.

The support package will primarily see an additional £500m added to the Social Care Grant to bolster social care budgets, a key concern raised by councils.

All councils will experience a minimum 4% increase in core spending power through the Funding Guarantee, surpassing the initially announced 3% at the provisional settlement.

This funding supplements the already announced £64bn package in the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25, receiving approval from leading local government organisations such as the Local Government Association, County Councils Network, and District Councils Network.

Councillor Richard Jackson, Nottinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “The Government’s announcement of half a billion pounds more for upper-tier councils is fantastic news. Nottinghamshire County Council is already a very well-run local authority, but like all councils, we have been facing significant financial pressures.

“Our share of this funding will ease those pressures and allow us to invest more in helping the most vulnerable people in our county, setting them on course to happier, healthier and more independent lives. Without question, Councillor Ben Bradley has been hugely influential in securing this extra money for Nottinghamshire. As leader of this County Council and MP for Mansfield, he not only understands the challenges facing local government but is in a position to explain these challenges personally and directly to ministers.

“Ben has been a spearhead for the County Council Network’s campaign urging the Government to provide an emergency injection of funding for councils and he was lead signatory on the letter sent by the County All Party Parliamentary Group to Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove, making the case for more council funding. This message has been heard and the Government has listened. Nottinghamshire will feel the benefit when we bring forward this council’s budget proposals, setting out our plan to deliver sustainable services in 2024/25 and beyond.”

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “We have listened to councils across England about the pressures they’re facing and have always stood ready to help those in need. This additional £600 million support package illustrates our commitment to local government. We are in their corner, and we support the incredible and often unsung work they do day-to-day to support people across the country.”