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Martin Swales, UK President of Solace, said: “Solace welcomes the short-term financial certainty that this Spending Round brings for the sector. It is encouraging that the Government has listened to our extensive work and calls for much needed clarity over local government finances, in particular, the future of crucial programmes such as the Better Care Fund, Troubled Families and Public Health Grant. While challenges remain, this will enable councils to plan more effectively for the coming year.

“The extra funding for social care is also welcome. This greater clarity will lessen some of the acute pressures that we see every day in the social care system. However, the Government must tackle the fundamental issues involved in creating a sustainable social care system.

“Councils remain reliant on local council tax and business rate payers picking up substantial pressures within an outdated system. This creates a real risk to local services. Solace has made progress in detailed discussions with MHCLG and Treasury to make the case for a sustainable local government funding system, and I will be pressing to maintain this momentum to both shape and redesign the system for the medium to long-term.”