ADEPT response to the Budget 2024
Anthony Payne, President of ADEPT said: "While we welcome any new investment in our places, there is no escaping the fact that the place-based services ADEPT members are responsible for delivering are struggling. A budget focused on cutting tax and a patchwork of investment that has ignored some areas of the country will do nothing to help local authorities deliver the essential services people rely on every day. We have already made significant efficiencies and there is very little left to cut. Councils across the country are making extremely difficult decisions based on painful choices that will impact everyone, but fall hardest on the most vulnerable in our communities.
"Place-based services exist to support local economies, waste collection and recycling, the road network, housing and sustainable development, green spaces and many other essential programmes and schemes all linked to delivering better, healthier places for local communities. Without adequate resource and mitigation to alleviate inflationary pressures, these cannot be delivered. ADEPT wants to work with government to ensure the continuation of services on which everyone depends, but we cannot continue to deliver for local places without the certainty of long term funding settlements."
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