the local government association has identified a decrease in uk government funding of almost 60 per cent for local authorities in england and wales between 2010 and 2020. the reduction in central government funding for county councils in england combined with an increasing demand for social care services has caused reductions in expenditure on other services such as public libraries, refuse collection, road maintenance and sure start, along with increases to council tax rates and the introduction of additional charges for county council services. local authority subsidies to bus services were reduced by almost half between 2010 and 2018.