The Chancellor delivered his budget on Wednesday and it was very much as expected with the usual facts and figure confirming what many of us already know: the economy is growing and unemployment is falling, but within local government we still need to exercise restraint. Whatever your own personal view, it’s clear that we still face ‘more of the same’ – central government grants will continue to reduce and impact up on us – and we know that demand on our services will increase.
The budget didn’t deliver anything new, but I thought it did reflect many of our challenges in Staffordshire even if our job isn’t yet done. The budget reinforced the need to do more to drive exports through local firms and get a firmer grip on public finances, an approach which reinforces what we’re doing here in Staffordshire to deliver savings and efficiencies, as well as support our local economy. Resources will continue be tight, but we have to look across the public sector, and beyond to make better use of what we have to continue to offer services that people need.
The Chancellor’s announcements about changes to the savings and pensions systems do represent a step change in how people can control their money later in life. This is something that all parties have welcomed for the sheer scale of change that is proposed. By giving people more control over their retirement resources, this supports the wider direction evident throughout the public sector of giving people more control over their own lives.