‘60p in every £1 of council tax to go on social care’

ALMOST 60p in every £1 of council tax will be spent on social care by 2020, it was claimed yesterday.

Local authorities said rapidly rising social care costs will mean fresh curbs on bin rounds, road repairs, street lighting, buses and food safety checks.

Figures from the Local Government Association forecast that by the 2019-20 financial year, 3 .1 p in every pound paid in council tax will go on social care for the elderly. Another 1 .74p will be needed for social workers and care for children. This all amounts to about 57p in every £1. The LGA highlighted a ‘funding gap’ of £5. billion despite a precept allowing an extra 3 per cent to be added to bills this year for social care.

Cuts to government help for town halls mean that half of councils will no longer get any Treasury cash by 2019, it added.

Just two years ago figures suggested the combined spending from council tax on adults and children was roughly 45p for every £1, demonstrating how sharply costs have risen.

‘The money local government has to provide vital day-to-day services is running out fast,’ the Association said.

The warning aims to pile pressure on Chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of his budget later this month.