The latest national statistics on the provisional outturn figures of local authority capital expenditure and receipts in the financial year April 2012 to March 2013 and forecast figures for April 2013 to March 2014 were released on 25 June 2013 under arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
The latest statistical release includes data from 2008 to 2009, to 2013 to 2014.
The main points of this release are:
capital expenditure by local authorities in England fell from £20 billion in 2011 to 2012 to £18.7 billion in 2012 to 2013, a year-on-year decrease of almost 7%, due mainly to a reduction in expenditure in both new construction and conversion and on grants, loans and other financial assistance; it is forecast to increase to £23.7 billion in 2013 to 2014, a year-on-year rise of 27%
capital receipts have increased slightly in 2012 to 2013 to £2.1 billion from £2 billion in 2011 to 2012, a year-on-year increase of 5%; receipts are forecast to fall to £2 billion in 2013 to 2014
the provisional outturn figure for capital expenditure in 2012 to 2013 is the lowest since 2006 to 2007, whilst the forecast for expenditure in 2013 to 2014 is the highest amount yet recorded; there is some evidence from authorities that 2012 to 2013 capital expenditure is lower than originally forecast due to slippage on various schemes and development projects which are now expected to be delivered in 2013 to 2014
in 2012 to 2013 capital expenditure on central services, and fire and rescue both increased by 21%, while housing increased by 11%; however, there has been a decrease in capital expenditure in the same year of about 15% in both education (which excludes expenditure related to academies) and social services, and of around 10% in highways and transport, and in police; culture and related services fell by 23%, while trading services fell by 61%