Spring Budget: key takeaways for local authorities

On 15 March Jeremy Hunt revealed his plans for the 2023 Spring Budget. 

There was a particular focus on people returning to the workforce and the measures being taken to break down ‘barriers to work’.

One of these measures includes a significant boost in publicly-funded childcare for working parents. 

Those with children of nine months and older will receive up to 30 hours a week of free childcare to help breathe some life back into the UK economy. 

Hunt added that the budget is“aimed at achieving long-term, sustainable economic growth that delivers prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom.” 

Key takeaways

A host of new ‘Levelling Up Partnerships’ were confirmed in the Spring Budget, including:

• £400m in investment
• £200m for regeneration
• £200m for potholes and road renovations 
• £100m for charities and community groups 

How have local councils responded? 

While council leaders have responded positively to plans outlined in the Spring Budget, disappointment was expressed towards the lack of funding for adult social care, public health and children’s services.

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “It is good that the Chancellor has acted on council calls for funding and measures to widen employment support, improve local roads, protect swimming pools from rising costs and funding for vital regeneration efforts.

“A third round of levelling up funding will give councils the opportunity to forge ahead with ambitious plans to transform their communities and unlock potential for more local growth. However, we remain clear that levelling up should be locally led by evidence of where crucial investment needs to go to, not based on costly competitive bids between areas. 

“Given this is a ‘back-to-work’ Budget, it is disappointing there is no further investment in adult social care, public health and children’s services, which all play a vital role in supporting economic growth and helping people back into work, alongside boosting people’s health and wellbeing.”