Presenting the draft local government finance settlement in December, DCLG claimed Nottingham city council would have its spending power cut by 8.4% in 2011-12 (the council puts this at 16.5%) – but apparently including a staggering 45% cut in the city's Supporting People allocation. Contesting this, DCLG describes a complex system of banding to limit the maximum cut in SP. We have written to DCLG under the pre-action protocol for judicial review. We are challenging the lack of transparency in the draft settlement, the sudden redistribution of SP funding away from the most deprived areas, and central government's failure to consult or assess the impact of the changes. These include the imminent withdrawal of support from around 7,000 vulnerable people in Nottingham, nearly 3,000 of whom receive housing support. But we are told secretary of state Eric Pickles is aware of his equality duties and will discharge them before the settlement is finalised. So the government does have the power to distribute SP in 2011-12 on the same basis as in 2010-11. This will allow time for proper consultation on a long-term solution that is fair, transparent and predictable.
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