Council leaders push for reform after ‘short-term’ £500m social care boost confirmed

Council leaders have called for reform of local government finance and an end to “short-term” measures after Michael Gove confirmed authorities will receive £500 million in emergency funding for social care.

In a written statement on Wednesday, the Communities Secretary said the extra money would enable councils to provide “crucial social care services for their local communities, particularly children”.

The Government has also increased the “funding guarantee”, which sets out the minimum percentage annual increase in money available to all councils before local decisions on council tax, from 3% to 4%.

“This was a key ask of (lower tier) district councils,” Mr Gove said.

Councils which