Is anyone worried about their council going bust?

[PassingStranger]

It was on the news this morning that alot of councils are very close to going bust.
Services are having to be cut again and council tax going up?

What would happen if your council went bust?
Is there a way to find out how your council is doing?
Anyone worried like me? Xx

Our local school had an issue with its pool - council said it would cost £12,000 just for someone to come out and look at it!!!! Insane.

Our paddling pools closed last summer. Facebook First excuse the right blue paint wasn't available in the UK. Builders merchants, swimming pool builders came forward to debunk this.

Second excuse they couldn't find specific contractors they were all booked up. Specialist contractors stepped forward to debunk this. Offering to do the job for free.

Third excuse the pool was full of stones from winter storms. Step forward volunteers willing to give up their time to clear the pool.

Eventually a couple of guys arrived to clear the pool of stones putting a mini JCB in to do the job. Oops the weight cracked the bottom.

So no paddling pools.

It is true that they aren't allowed to spend money made just on what they want - that's central government rules that limit and restrict spending.
There are all sorts of restrictions like this that tie councils hands, makes forward planning difficult as central govt can just swoop in and change laws - austerity times and social rents were ordered to be cut. Those anticipated rent increases had been built into planning housing budgets then suddenly there were no rises in rent revenue - then even less money coming in as it was ordered rents be cut!
But councils taking the blame for the tory govt mismanagement is part of the plan.
Not saying there isn't waste in places - but councils are being held together by a thread now.
Bankruptcy is when the thread breaks.

Apologies @Diamondshmiamond - I was commenting in the abstract about people who think it’s unfair to have to sell your home to fund care not realising that taxes would need to increase to fund care costs, but I expect there are many people like you who are dealing with both. My mum spent the last few years of her life in a care home, and it was hard to lose the family home. You have my sympathy.

Yes it's appalling

We have had Ukrainian guests to stay - when they first went into town they said Bucha ( where they come from - one of the worst hit areas on the outskirts of Kyiv) was in better shape!

I have been told the £11 million deficit is due to buying up land for the big station hub at basford. Now it will be worthless.

Yes, the LA I work for is hovering on the brink. Apparently, we've now been issued with the £40 odd million that had been requested from Central Government which means that we can issue a 'balanced budget' for next tax year.

Shame that the balanced budget effectively means trying to deliver services for fuck all with barely any staff, whilst simultaneously trying to convince Ofsted that Children's Services are doing a cracking job rather than drowning....

Pembrokeshire council are considering a 16.31% council tax rise. Yelp!

I thought the council tax increases were capped? Is that not the case in Wales?

Not in Wales, no. And even in England the cap doesn't apply to the councils in really dire straits, Birmingham will be going up 10%

Jakers, we're 9% this year after 10% last year 🙈

Bins being emptied is exactly the sort of thing that will go. I think bin collections have been halved in Birmingham since they went bust.

Are you in Wales by any chance?

Birmingham bins have been a nightmare for years

Same with our council. They delay and make parents got to tribunal, hiring lawyers etc. Delaying provision that is legally required for SEND children like speech therapy.

Our LA also paid an insane amount of compensation where children had been out of school due to their negligence.

The whole SEND system is corrupted by LAs acting illegally and trying to white wash and essentially victim blame children with SEND and their families.

SEND funding needs a radical shake up and should be under central government with a watchdog who can effectively penalise illegal practice.

This isn't happening right now.

They lose something like 96% of all tribunal cases. But in the mean time its a waiting game (tribunals take months to get to cases) and it allows them to illegally delay paying for legal provision.... and how much are they paying the judges to oversee this crackpot system?

Yep 🙈

Definitely. I spent ten months waiting for Tribunal, LA agreed dd should have EOTAS package but wouldn't agree to any provision. They just sat on it for ten months and conceded day before hearing. They push parents to breaking point, deprive children of education and there is no accountability at all.

As someone who's very ability to exist in the world is dependent on my council funding part of my care, I'm terrified.

A lot of disabled people in my groups are.

I refuse to enter a nursing home.