The Preston Model - An answer to local government cuts?
The scale of Conservative cuts to local government has been devastating for council services. Central government has cut funding for councils by half since 2010 . Southampton alone has lost £136.4 million over the last seven years. These cuts translate to the closure of nearly 800 libraries around the country. Youth services have seen their funding slashed by nearly 70 percent . Sure Start funding has fallen by about 60% . Adult and children’s social care are also under huge pressure. Pressure for innovative solutions Local councils have employed a number of innovative solutions to blunt the impact of this lost funding. Some councils have borrowed to invest in commercial properties for the rental income. Other councils have set up energy providers, Southampton City Council's CitizEn Energy is a local example. Preston Model attracting attention Preston Flag Market by © Francis C. Franklin / CC-BY-SA-3.0 , CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link One strategy that has attracted the att...