Local Authority spending

Local Government needs to cover the costs of services in the following sectors, either directly, in partnership with others or by commissioning services from a third party:

  • Education & children services
  • Highways, roads & transport
  • Housing
  • Planning & development
  • Fire & public safety
  • Social care & adult services
  • Cultural services
  • Waste management
  • Trading standards
  • Environmental services
  • Local Register and tax administration

Local Government spending falls into two main areas:

  • spending on capital projects (e.g. infrastructure, school buildings, etc)
  • revenue spending on running services.

Local Government spending amounts to approximately a quarter of all UK public spending 1 which for 2014 was a combined £732bn 2.

<H5>Useful Links</H5>

  1. 2013- DCLG – Provisional local government finance settlement 2014 to 2015
  2. 2014 – The Guardian – Budget 2014 visualised