The cautious optimism of local politicians after the budget presented by Rachel Reeves

Ms Reeves also announced a £1 billion increase in non-stress services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) – six per cent in real terms.

As we revealed earlier this year, the cost of transporting SEND pupils to school alone cost Lancashire County Council £8.4 million more than it expected in 2023/24.

Conservative deputy leader – and cabinet member for resources – Alan Vincent said the extra investment was good news, but stressed it was “far less than what the County Council Network asked for to improve SEND provision”.

He also warned that another budget measure – an increase in national insurance contributions for employers, potentially including councils themselves – could hit the County hard.

“If we don’t get any relief from the increase in National Insurance it will cost us a fortune and wipe out much of the benefit of the extra money – we’re waiting for the fine print.

“We could lose business rate revenue if the hospitality industry is hit as hard as it could be and (if) other businesses go under,” County Executive Vincent said.

At the end of the first quarter of the current financial year, the authority said it forecast a £7.6m overspend – and this came after almost £21m of savings and the use of one-off funding to close what would otherwise have been a wider gap.

However, Labor opposition group leader Matthew Tomlinson said he believed Lancashire people would “welcome a lot of what is in this budget”.

“Freezing fuel duty, increasing the age pension by £400 and reducing the price of a pint will all be particularly welcome, as will investment in our hospitals, community clinics and our armed forces.

“In terms of local government, I welcome the government’s commitment to supporting the work we are doing, particularly in areas such as rebuilding failing schools, affordable housing and, in particular, more money for pothole repairs,” added County Executive Tomlinson.

The Chancellor has announced a £500m increase in core funding for road maintenance compared to the current financial year.

John Potter, Preston Lib Dem County Councilor and Leader of the Opposition on Preston City Council, said of the budget pledges to the local authority: “Any extra money is always welcome but the devil is in the details.

“Will this money be short-term one-off grants or proper ongoing funding for our councils and the vital services they provide? We will wait and see.”

Meanwhile, Green Party county group leader Gina Dowding accused the government of taking a “simple step” on funding for SEND and affordable housing, when “big steps are needed to meet the need for both”.

She added: “The Chancellor could end ‘right to buy’ council housing and stop the sale of our public housing stock.

“Investment in public health budgets has been shown to reduce demand on the NHS by preventing avoidable disease. These budgets had to be increased.

“A one per cent wealth tax won’t make a difference to the quality of life of people with a fortune of more than £10m, but it will make a world of difference to all of us dealing with NHS waiting lists, cold homes and poor public transport. “Labour has missed an opportunity to close the inequality gap.”

On the right to buy side, the government did announce a reduction in the discount given to tenants buying a council house property, and said that local authorities would be able to keep the total proceeds from such sales from next month to reinvest in social housing.

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