Councils control only 5% of local spending
Author: Local Government Chronicle - Nov 3, 2009
The lack of control councils have over public money spent in their area has been laid bare by new research produced by a flagship government efficiency programme.
The Total Place programme has found that while public bodies spend £7,000 per person on local services such as health, education and care for the elderly, only £350 of that is controlled by local politicians.
The government programme, which has mapped public spending in 13 localities with a view to finding significant savings, is to discuss some initial findings before submitting a dossier to the pre-Budget report.
The Local Government Association slammed the findings, stating that the figures showed the lack of control local people have over how money is spent in their area.
In a speech to a Total Place summit, David Parsons, chairman of the LGA Improvement Board, will say: "It is absurd that people do not have a bigger say over how their taxes are spent in the area they live.
"During these tough times democratically elected councils have a vital role to play if people are to get the local services they demand and deserve."
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