English councils are now spending £3bn less on ‘neighbourhood’ services, such as bins, planning and potholes, than they were five years ago, a report says.
The Association for Public Service Excellence (Apse), which did the research, says the huge cuts to funding and the wide variations between authorities in funding services were “changing the very nature of local government”.
The biggest falls in spending in these services have been in the most deprived council areas, where there have been sharp spending reductions in areas such as food and water safety inspection, community centres and services aimed at cutting crime, such as CCTV cameras.
What is the impact of all this on communities? We want to hear from readers about the services that have gone where they live. Has your family been affected? Are you concerned? Or, if you work for the council, tell us about the impact of having to make these cuts. What does the future hold for local government? Share your experiences below.
