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Local service delivery

The government has given councils and communities more power to decide how to spend their funding to meet local priorities and drive growth. Councils are now accountable for their spending through various checks and balances, with reduced reporting burdens.

At the same time, councils now have around 37% less central government funding than in 2010. As a result, their financial future is uncertain, and effective service delivery is under threat. Government also has less direct information about whether local spending achieves the intended outcomes and delivers value for money.

Key areas in which the NAO can share lessons and good practice across government are in Accountability in local service delivery; Commissioning services; and Financial and service sustainability.

Key NAO publications:

Public service markets: Putting things right when they go wrong (Jun 2015)
Financial sustainability of local authorities 2014 (Nov 2014)
The Impact of Funding Reductions on Local Authorities (Nov 2014)
Funding healthcare: Making allocations to local areas (Sep 2014)
Funding and structures for local economic growth (Dec 2013)

Autumn 2022

The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015

This report will assess the progress of government’s Affordable Homes Programme.

Posted 22 April 2022 in: Infrastructure

Performance Improvement area(s): Local service delivery, Transforming public services

Contact:

NAO Press Office
+44 (0)20 7798 7400 or email pressoffice@nao.org.uk

The local government finance system in England: overview and challenges

This financial overview looks at what local government in England spends, how this spending is funded and the effect of changes in recent years.

Performance Improvement area(s): Local service delivery

Department(s): Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
10 Nov 2021

Local government and net zero in England

This new report responds to a request from the Environmental Audit Committee to examine local government and net zero.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Local services

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Local service delivery

Department(s): Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, HM treasury, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
16 Jul 2021

Local Government Boundary Commission for England annual report and accounts 2020-2021

The Comptroller & Auditor General’s report on the 2020-2021 accounts of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Sector(s): Local services

Performance Improvement area(s): Local service delivery

Published:
30 Jun 2021

Timeliness of local auditor reporting on local government in England, 2020

The report examines the timeliness of auditor reporting on English local public bodies’ financial statements covering 2019-20.

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency, Local services

Performance Improvement area(s): Accountability in local service delivery, Financial and risk management, Local service delivery

Department(s): Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
16 Mar 2021

Local government finance in the pandemic

This report examines whether the government secured financial sustainability across the local authority sector during COVID-19.

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency, Local services

Performance Improvement area(s): Accountability in local service delivery, COVID-19, Financial and risk management, Financial and service sustainability, Local service delivery

Department(s): HM treasury, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
10 Mar 2021

Departmental Overview 2019-20: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

A summary of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, spending in 2019-20, its major areas of activity and performance, and the challenges it is likely to face in the coming year, based on the insights from our financial audit and value for money work.

Sector(s): Local services

Performance Improvement area(s): Local service delivery, Support to Boards

Department(s): Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
28 Jan 2021