Leader of Hertfordshire County Council Reacts to Autumn Statement

Cllr Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, reacts to the Autumn Statement:

‘While we welcome the proposed general increase in local government funding, the National Insurance increases announced today which we understand will be covered for local government, will still have a significant impact on our care providers and we will need to plan for these costs with them. Also, the damage that these announcements could do to our local businesses will make our ambitions for economic growth in the county a significant challenge going forwards.

‘It will also be interesting to see what the wider announcements made today will mean for Hertfordshire residents and as always, the devil will be in the detail. If taken as read, investment in schools, road maintenance, the household support fund, carers allowance and additional support for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities should be welcomed, however this level of investment remains significantly short of the funding required to balance our budget next year.

‘Hertfordshire has been one of the lowest recipients of high needs funding across the country to provide services to children with SEND, and from what we’ve heard today, it doesn’t feel like the measures announced will go far enough towards rectifying this historical funding injustice.’