Islington Council statement - response to Spending Round 2019

Cllr Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, said: “Islington Council has seen Government cuts of 70 per cent to its core funding since 2010 and has had to find savings of £275 million by 2022. The council faces ongoing financial pressures in providing vital support for children, care for older people and so much more that supports local people each day.

“It’s disappointing that today’s Government spending round does not include a clear ongoing commitment to properly funding vital local services. For example, the money announced for social care looks like a sticking plaster partly funded by higher council tax bills, when what is needed is proper sustainable funding.

“We will carefully look through the detailed breakdown of the spending round and what it means for Islington, when this information is available. However, today’s announcement will come no way near to making up the funding lost for local services due to Government cuts since 2010, and we will continue to urge the Government to properly fund public services.”