Responding to recent research into commercial investment, Cllr Mark Crane, DCN lead for stronger economies, said:

“District councils have punched above their weight in terms of savings made through shared services but have also faced the biggest reduction in their spending power since 2015 compared to other types of councils.

“To address these significant funding cuts and increasing uncertainty over future funding after 2020, it is right that district councils seek new sources of revenue to plug funding gaps through prudent investments that manage risk and protect local services on behalf of their taxpayers.

“Unless districts secure alternative sources of revenue, essential services  that our local communities rely on face being cut back or stopped altogether.

“The steady decline in funding must be reversed, through the Fair Funding Review and greater flexibilities for districts to tackle unfairness in the system, and an increase in spending power in the next spending review period.”

ENDS

CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333