It’s been clear, over the past few years, that the UK’s public sector has faced significant financial struggles – grappling with issues ranging from deteriorating infrastructure to the immense operational and financial pressures on the NHS. Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances this year, and this doesn’t necessarily come as a huge surprise.
This challenge is so stark, that the Local Government Association has found that nearly one in five local councils are likely to be facing bankruptcy by March 2025 – with the County Councils Network forecasting a £54 billion funding shortfall facing England’s local councils over the next five years.
