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Spending on libraries, parks and bin collections has fallen by £3 billion in five years

Spending on libraries, parks and bin collections has fallen by more than £3 billion in the last five years.

Councils in England have cut their budgets for vital local services, according to a new report.

Between 2010/11 and 2015/16, spending on services like rubbish collection and pothole repair dropped by £3.1 billion.

Analysis by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) showed that spending on neighbourhood services fell by 13%.

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However, spending on social services increased by £2.2 billion in the same period.

Dr Peter Kenway, the author of the report, said: ‘There is an urgent need for local councils and governments to recognise that neighbourhood services are a driver for local prosperity.’

APSE’s chief executive Paul O’Brien said: ‘While many are terming the forthcoming general election as the “Brexit election”, we can’t afford to ignore the bread and butter neighbourhood issues.

Library services were affected by the cuts (Picture: Rex)
Library services were affected by the cuts (Picture: Rex)

‘In eight years, local government spending will have dropped from two thirds of that of central governments’ to half.

‘There is a slow but very harmful dismantling of neighbourhood services that marks a profound change in what local public services our communities can expect to receive.

‘From emptying bins to running swimming pools to providing high quality local parks, spending on these services, which communities really value, has been cut harder and faster than any other area of public service spend. Centrally driven austerity has fallen hardest on local shoulders.’

APSE said poorer areas of England had been the worst hit by the cuts, with spending on neighbourhood services in some regions down by 50%.

The worst affected services include support for bus services and crime reduction measures, such as CCTV.

In the most deprived fifth of local authorities, neighbourhood services spending has decreased by up to 22% on average – compared to just 5% in wealthy areas.

Poorer areas suffered a sharp decrease in spending on road safety, school crossings and community centres.

The report said: ‘Neighbourhood services should be on an equal footing to other public services and not viewed as a painless option for more cuts in local spending.’