Walsall Council to see 28.5 per cent increase in its funding over next three years

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Local Government and Communities, this week announced draft local authority funding settlements for the next three years.

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Walsall Council's allocation will rise by £141.6 million over the next three years, an increase of 28.5 per cent.

The news was welcomed by council leader  Councillor Mike Bird, although he said the authority still faced financial challenges from rising demand from adult social care.

"The multi-year local authority funding settlement is a welcome and positive development. It brings good news for Walsall, with our core spending power projected to increase by 28.5 per cent over the next three years," he said.

“There is a need for clarity and while this gives us greater certainty for future planning, we still face significant challenges due to rising demand for many of our services, particularly within adult social care and children’s services, and special educational needs provision. 

"Securing long-term funding is essential for councils to keep delivering local services and I’m confident that Walsall Council will continue to demonstrate strong and robust financial management, making a difference in our local community.”

The calculation of core spending power assumes a yearly increase of council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent permitted without a referendum.

Wolverhampton is projected to see a 35 per cent increase in its spending power over the next three years, while Dudley will see a 22 per cent increase.

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