Tough times is a new report looking at councils' responses to a challenging financial climate. The report contains new Audit Commission analysis of revenue account (RA) data provided by councils to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). It also summarises the findings of a survey of all local government auditors which gathered their emerging views on the impact of falls in government support and councils' responses as they prepared their plans for 2011/12.
The report looks at the impact on councils of:
- a real terms reduction of £3.5 billion in government funding; and
- a £1.2 billion fall in local income from council tax and fees and charges.
The report recommends that councils use the Audit Commission's
Value for Money profiles to see how their council compares to the national picture set out in this report, identify councils facing similar challenges, and learn from others' approaches.