Today’s public spending review has been heavily trailed. Unless we’ve been misled more cuts to local council budgets seem certain.
Up to now and to their great credit local authorities have continued to support local Citizens Advice. They wisely see it as investing in the community. Freely available advice helps solve problems that in the longer run would lead to big extra costs*.
This week Surrey County Council explained the savings they’ve made and how budgets will soon be stretched even tighter by increases in the number of older citizens and demand for school places.
We hope the chancellor and the government listen to SCC and others about the impact of more cuts on local services. It really is important local authorities go on investing to make sure people get the help they need.
* Citizens Advice calculates that for every £1 spent on the service our clients benefit by £11 and we save government and public services at least £360 million every year.