BBC Radio 5 live study uncovers people’s views on council tax spending
The public prioritise protecting care for the elderly and disabled people when it comes to council cuts.
Published: 23 February 2016
Getting to the heart of the issues that matter most is what BBC Radio 5 live is all about and few issues matter more to people than the way their council taxes are spent on local services.
A survey carried out for BBC Radio 5 live about people’s attitudes towards council tax spending in England and Wales has found people prioritise local care services for the elderly and disabled people over other areas of local authority spending when it comes to what should be cut over the next few years.
The study carried out by ComRes found that, when asked to pick between various parts of local government spending, almost three quarters (74 per cent) of people in England and Wales say that they would want their local council to protect care services for the elderly and for disabled people. But the results show only 12 per cent of people feel that funding for culture and leisure facilities should be the priority, which would include areas such as libraries and swimming pools.
This comes as figures given exclusively to BBC Radio 5 live by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and Municipal Journal (MJ) from its joint Annual Local Government Finance Survey, show adult social care is the service that councils are worried about paying for the most.
Today, Adrian Chiles presents the BBC Radio 5 live Daily programme live from a care home in the North West of England. He’ll talk to staff, residents, family members, care home bosses and key industry experts to find out how care homes are faring in an increasingly tough financial climate, and get their reaction to today’s figures.
What services should be protected?
The survey carried out by ComRes for BBC Radio 5 live also found that nearly two thirds of people (65 per cent) want councils to avoid cutting children’s services - again highlighting the importance people place on protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
However, it’s the strength of feeling that exists for protecting the care services of the elderly and of disabled people that is the stand-out result of the survey, with more people wanting to see these services protected than for community safety (23 per cent), waste collection (19 per cent) and culture and leisure activities (12 per cent) services combined.
Where should cuts be made?
The study found that 62 per cent of English and Welsh adults think that public administration, like elections and council websites, should be one of the three areas where local councils should be making savings.
What’s happening at councils?
The news comes on the day figures given exclusively to BBC Radio 5 live by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and Municipal Journal (MJ) from their Annual Local Government Finance Survey show that adult social care is the area facing most uncertainty over its future funding.
The Local Government Finance survey presents the results of responses from 156 council workers based at 132 local councils. Forty Three per cent of respondents said that they faced immediate pressures on the funding of adult and social care services, with the figure rising to 54 per cent of respondents when looking at the funding of these services over the longer term.
Jonathan Wall, Controller of BBC Radio 5 live, says: “Getting to the heart of the issues that matter most is what BBC Radio 5 live is all about and few issues matter more to people than the way their council taxes are spent on local services. That’s why we have sent Adrian Chiles out of the studio to explore all the issues surrounding care homes, and hear from people who manage there, live there and work there.”
Notes to Editors
- ComRes interviewed 904 English and Welsh adults aged 18+ by telephone from 12 to 14 February 2016. Data were weighted to be representative of all English and Welsh adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
- The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) is an independent research and information organisation supported by councils and the local government trade unions.
- The LGIU and Municipal Journal Annual Government Finance Survey includes the responses of 156 council workers from 132 councils.
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