A/HRC/41/39/Add.1 children.46 Lack of access to legal aid also exacerbates extreme poverty, since justiciable problems that could have been resolved with legal representation go unaddressed. 47 C. Shrinking local government funding 39. In 2010, the Government pledged to radically change public services by cutting funding to local authorities in England. As a result, the National Audit Office estimates that local governments in England saw a 49 per cent real-term reduction in government funding allocations from 2010–2011 to 2017–2018, at the same time that demand for key social services was rising. This has had extremely negative consequences for critical social services, since English local authorities have extensive social care responsibilities, limited authority and ability to raise their own revenue, and are obligated to balance their books. 40. As a result, local governments have reduced services, shuttered many public facilities and transferred a greater share of service costs to users, who are often the least able to pay. More than 500 children’s centres closed between 2010 and 2018,48 and between 2010 and 2016 more than 340 libraries closed and 8,000 library jobs were lost. 49 These services are of particular significance to those living in poverty for a variety of reasons, including access to a computer or a safe community space. 41. Local authorities cut net spending on services in real terms by 19 per cent from 2010–2011 to 2016–2017 and focused remaining spending on statutorily mandated social care and child protection services, demand for which has increased. 50 The leader of one city council explained that while being forced to cut preventive services, local governments have faced increased demands for even costlier crisis interventions. Between 2011–2012 and 2016–2017, cash-strapped local authorities reduced spending on preventive housing services by £590 million or 46 per cent, but increased crisis spending on housing by £360 million or 58 per cent.51 42. As a result of cuts, large numbers of vulnerable children in places like Northamptonshire are at greater risk of harm due to rapidly deteriorating front-line child protection services. 52 In March 2018 the National Audit Office criticized the lack of ongoing, coordinated monitoring of the impact funding cuts are having on local authority services, and warned that statutory services are at risk. 53 43. Local emergency welfare funds, a vital resource for people on the brink of crisis, have been another casualty of a shredded safety net. The United Kingdom Government abolished its centralized Social Fund in 2013 and many local governments in England have had to close or cut their Local Welfare Assistance Schemes, leaving vulnerable people and those facing emergencies without anywhere to turn. At least 28 authorities in England have shuttered their local welfare funds, and councils reported reducing related expenditures by 72.5 per cent between 2013 and 2018.54 The proportion of destitute people who reported receiving in-kind help from local welfare funds dropped 28 per cent between 2015 and 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 10 Owen Bowcott and others, “Revealed: legal aid cuts forcing parents to give up fight for children”, Guardian, 26 December 2018. G. McKeever, M. Simpson and C. Fitzpatrick, “Destitution and paths to justice”, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 7 June 2018. Parliament, “Children’s centres: closures: written question – 123506”. See www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35707956. National Accounting Office, “Financial sustainability of local authorities 2018”, p. 28. This figure excludes spending on schools and public health. Adam Tinson, Carla Ayrton and Issy Petrie, A Quiet Crisis: Local Government Spending on Disadvantage in England, New Policy Institute and Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, September 2018, p. 29. Patrick Butler, “Task force to be sent to protect vulnerable children in Northamptonshire”, Guardian, 13 November 2018. National Accounting Office, “Financial sustainability of local authorities 2018,” pp. 10–11. Gavin Aitchison, “Compassion in crisis: how do people in poverty stay afloat in times of emergency?”, Church Action on Poverty and End Hunger UK, October 2018, p. 4.