Part 3/8:
Declining Spending Power
The picture is grim when evaluating the municipal financial landscape. The National Audit Office reported a 26% decline in councils’ overall spending capacity from 2010-2011 to 2020-2021, with government funding draining by an astonishing 52.3% over the same time frame. Meanwhile, funding from council tax has risen by 15.6%, illustrating that the slashing of government support has been the primary driver behind the overall decline.