Budget cuts force local councils into “narrow” focus on social care, warns watchdog

Local authorities in England are being forced to prioritise adult social care over other vital services such as housing because of swingeing central budget cuts, the public spending watchdog has warned.

In a report published on 8 March,1 the National Audit Office (NAO) said that the financial health of local authorities across England was worsening, with councils struggling with higher demand and cost pressures against central funding cuts of nearly 50% since 2010-11.

While local authorities have been granted more freedom to increase council tax bills and have received one-off short term funds from …