PREFACE
This is the 17th edition of Local Government Financial Statistics England, covering summaries of financial data from local authorities, though earlier versions of LGFS have been published and presented to Parliament since the 1930s. Most of the information comes from forms sent to Communities and Local Government by all local authorities in England.
Local government expenditure represents about a quarter of all public expenditure, and the data are used in the monitoring of public expenditure and the compilation of the National Accounts. Local government finance data are also used by the Government to inform the allocation of resources to local government and the development and monitoring of local government finance policy, and more widely, by local authorities, businesses and members of the public.
This volume contains detailed outturn summaries of local government expenditure and income for years up to 2005-06, the latest year for which complete information is available, and estimates for 2006-07. Before the publication of the next edition of LGFS in early 2008, the latest information will be made available in National Statistics releases of 2006-07 outturn summaries and 2007-08 budgets, by means of local government finance key facts cards and in other releases which will be published on the Department’s website.
Local government finance statistics publications and other detailed data can be found on: http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats
We welcome comments and suggestions for further improvement. Please contact us on:lgfstats@communities.gsi.gov.uk
For specific contact telephone numbers, please refer to Annex E.