Extend transition period for local government funding reforms

Background

We want the Government to extend the transition period for its local government funding reforms from the Fair Funding Review so councils facing significant funding changes have more time to adjust without having to resort to excessive tax increases on local taxpayers.

Additional details

For example, Wandsworth Council faces significant pressure from the new local government funding reforms. Wandsworth Council says the reforms could reduce its funding by £84 million a year. Despite identifying £79 million in annual savings, it says Council Tax for a Band D property could rise by £958 in 2027/28 — from around £1,020 to £1,978 – around a 94% increase. The Institute for Fiscal Studies identified Wandsworth among councils facing particularly large funding reductions. Wandsworth Council has asked the Government to extend the 3-year local authority funding transition period to 8 years. We are asking the Government to extend the transition period to give affected councils more time to adapt and reduce the risk of exceptionally large council tax increases in a single year.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.