Councils in England will get £60 billion in funding.

Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, announced today, December 19, 2022, that councils in England will get almost £60 billion for the next financial year. This money will help councils keep providing important frontline services.

The settlement will give councils in England an extra 5 billion, which is a 9% increase over last year's settlement. This shows that the government continues to support councils and public services in the face of financial pressures.

The agreement for next year includes a one-time Funding Guarantee that says every council in England will get at least a 3% increase in core spending power before any local decisions are made about council tax. Along with this, the government is today confirming a new £100 million scheme for councils to protect the most vulnerable households from council tax increases. This fulfills the promise made in the election campaign to protect local taxpayers from excessive increases.

Social care is also a top priority, and the government is giving an extra £2 billion in grants for social care for adults and children in 2023/24. There are also £300 million for NHS England to help increase capacity by making it easier for patients to leave the hospital.

After hearing what councils had to say, the government has given more certainty up to 2024/25 by laying out spending plans for the next two years. This will make it easier for town halls to make plans for the future.

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