ABSTRACT
The Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) is used to calculate the payment of block grant from central government to local government and the level at which local council tax is set. Annual SSA calculations also controls the distribution of the uniform business rate. Spatial equity is often the implicit goal of central government grants to different regions, where geographical regions are the strata applied. The Personal Social Services (PSS) SSA presents the SSA methodology with some particular challenges given the complexities of the PSS welfare system. The PSS SSA is constituted from three separate sub SSAs: children’s services, services for the elderly and other adult social services. The SSA, as a control of government expenditure, represents a rigid planning mechanism. One alternative to the SSA methodology of allocation is to move local expenditure towards an even tighter controlled specific grant allocation. Expenditure reflects local efficiency levels, in addition to actual local demands.
