"This budget has started the work to address serious weaknesses in public services. This must continue in next year's spending review to deliver major policy and public service reform, not just ongoing emergency funding for broken systems."
In response to today’s Autumn Budget, CIPFA Chief Executive Owen Mapley, said:
“Whatever the fierce political rhetoric over decisions about tax and borrowing and whoever you believe over the competing claims of delivering or breaching manifesto commitments, the reality is that many public services are on their knees
"No single budget was ever going to address the scale of these challenges. The combination of immediate funding increases for a number of frontline public services followed by future reforms and medium-term funding plans in the remainder of the spending review period is both understandable and represent a step change in approach from recent fiscal events.
"This is a budget that will reassure some public service leaders and worry others
"The £1bn increase in funding for Special Educational Needs (SEND) recognises a system in crisis. But the SEND deficit currently exceeds £3 billion across English councils and is projected to rise to £8 billion in 2026/27. A long-term solution which looks at funding and service delivery is needed to a system that is neither meeting children’s needs nor allowing councils to remain sustainable.
"Increases in core spending power for councils are much needed but until there is more detail about the commitments to redistribution and new funding formulas this will create huge uncertainty only weeks before councils must set their budgets for next year.
"And while any user of NHS services will welcome the major commitments on both day-to-day funding and capital investment, it is essential that long term plans for the health and wellbeing of the population recognise the massive contribution of other local public services on the wider determinants of health in local communities.
"Those same local services are also major contributors to the wider determinants of growth and a clear commitment from Government to greater powers, funding and flexibilities for Mayors through combined authorities is good to see. The Treasury’s budget book refers to support for local government reorganisation. This will clearly be contentious but is unavoidable if we are to ensure that Mayors can work in partnership with bodies delivering services and not simply become another tier in an overly complicated patchwork quilt of local public service structures."
Notes to Editor:
- A CIPFA spokesperson is available for interview or comment. Please contact the press@cipfa.org to arrange