The Leader of Northumberland County Council has welcomed the Chancellor’s Budget and Spending Review statement today, which has set out Government funding and priorities for the next three years. 
 

The funding is set to support economic and social recovery through measures such as additional funding for healthcare, education and skills, housing, working families as well as looking to support priorities such as levelling-up and the transition to net zero. 

The Chancellor announced a multi-year settlement to enable local authorities to support the ambition to level up communities across the country, with an estimated average real-terms increase of 3% a year in core spending power. 
 

Councillor Glen Sanderson said: “The pandemic has underlined the vital role played by local councils in supporting our communities and the local economy. I am incredibly proud and grateful to our staff for working so hard and so effectively throughout the pandemic.  

“We provide a vital role in supporting Government deliver its priorities, particularly in levelling up and bringing jobs and prosperity to the area in new and growing industries, delivering quality public services to the most vulnerable in our communities and supporting the transition to a net-zero future.” 
 

“We welcome the Chancellor’s budget and spending review announced today, which will support us in delivering these priorities and allow us to continue to support the economic and social recovery we asked for.” 
 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the economy is in a stronger position than predicted in March with economic growth for 2021 revised up to 6.5%, alongside this a series of support measures to continue supporting business, innovation and growth were set out. 

He also reconfirmed the government's commitment to a "skills revolution" with a £1.bn spending package to support 16 to 19-year-olds, and £550m for adult skills in England. 
 

Councillor Sanderson added: 

“We want to realise the potential of local residents, supporting more young people and adults into work, as well as upskilling and retraining local people of all ages. We are confident this funding will help us to invest in skills and education programmes to continue to develop home-grown talent which will in turn support local businesses and drive growth in parts of our economy.” 
 

The county council leader was pleased to note that additional funding is also being made available to support parents and children in England. This new funding will support a range of early intervention support for vulnerable residents, an area the county council put forward for additional support in its input into Government’ Spending Review.  
 

A rise in the National Living Wage from £8.91 per hour to £9.50, will also come into effect from 1 April next year. This is a 6.6% increase in the minimum wage for all those aged 23 and over - more than twice the current 3.1% rise in the cost of living. 
 

An immediate change in the Universal Credit taper from 63p to 55p is also expected to be widely welcomed by low-income working families.