Local governments have borne the brunt of austerity measures over the past decade, with cities hit especially hard. Northern cities like Barnsley and Liverpool have seen the deepest cuts, combined with growing demand for social care that has squeezed other city services. The variation in cuts exists because of differences in how grant funding was reduced, and while some cities have responded, their ability to raise own funds is limited.

1. Cities Outlook
2019
a decade of austerity

2. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
centreforcities.org/outlook-19
Local
government
has borne
the brunt of
austerity

3. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
centreforcities.org/outlook-19
Contrary
to reports,
this has
fallen
mainly on
cities

4. Northern cities
have been hit
especially hard,
with Barnsley
and Liverpool
hardest hit

5. These cuts have
combined with
growing demand
for social care

6. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
centreforcities.org/outlook-19
This has meant that other services have
seen their spending particularly squeezed

7. The hardest hit are
also less able to
raise their own
money in response
to grant cuts

8. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
centreforcities.org/outlook-19
The
variation
exists
because of
the way
grant was
cut

9. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
centreforcities.org/outlook-19
With examples from specific service
lines

10. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
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Some cities
have
responded
to these
cuts, but
they have
limited
flexibility to
do so

11. #CitiesOutlook @CentreforCities
centreforcities.org/outlook-19
For
austerity
to end,
cities need

12. Cities Outlook
2019
a decade of austerity