Funding for neighbourhood services such as parks and open spaces fell by 27% in England, Wales and Scotland over a nine-year period (2009/10-2017/18), according to research by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE). Though a substantial reduction in local government spending has been unavoidable, the report says, the austerity faced by neighbourhood services has been too severe and isn’t proportionate to overall local government cuts. For more details, click here.