Title page
Contents
Summary 4
1. Introduction to local government finances 5
2. This year's Settlement 6
2.1. How to understand the settlement documentation 6
2.2. Summary of the Settlement 7
2.3. Other grants within the Settlement 8
2.4. Additional funding signalled in January 2024 9
2.5. Council tax referendums 10
3. Statistical summary 12
3.1. Core spending power has increased 12
3.2. Grants for social care increase by 27% 12
3.3. Deprivation 13
4. Other issues affecting local authorities 15
4.1. Section 114 notices 15
4.2. Inflation and pay 15
4.3. Capitalisation 16
4.4. Four-day working weeks 17
4.5. Business rates reform 18
5. Longer-term context 19
5.1. Overall trends since 2010/11 19
5.2. The changing face of local government funding 20
5.3. Spending in future years 21
6. Further reading 22