Millions ‘could be lost’ from school budgets
A total of £118 million for disadvantaged pupils could be lost from school budgets in England this year because of a government change in how this funding is calculated, new LGA analysis shows.
The Editorial Team
Empty offices ‘could lead to poor housing conversions’
The LGA has warned that office blocks left empty following the pandemic are at risk of being turned into potentially substandard housing under permitted development rights, which allow developers to convert buildings into homes without planning permission.
UK Leisure Framework update – Advertorial
As it completes its fourth year, Jamie Groves, MD of Denbighshire Leisure, and Sarah Watts, CEO of Alliance Leisure, look at the impact of the UK’s first dedicated leisure development framework.
The Queen’s Speech 2021
The Government has outlined its plans for homes, health and care, jobs, skills and the environment.
Transforming estates in a post-pandemic world – Advertorial
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a major shift in focus for the public sector. As local authorities develop plans to support the UK’s recovery, the role of estates transformation has become more significant than ever before.
Stepping up on levelling up
The Government has renewed its commitment to levelling up as part of the recovery from the pandemic, with new announcements focusing on better access to high-quality education, improved infrastructure in town centres, and more public sector jobs outside of London.
MPs support greater powers for councils
Eight in 10 MPs say councils should have more financial freedoms and powers to build homes in their area and 72 per cent say they should have more control over local taxes, according to exclusive LGA polling by Savanta ComRes.
Meeting in the time of coronavirus
Almost every council holds a meeting of all councillors in May, following the local elections.
MPs call for 10-year social care plan
A cross-party committee of MPs has called on ministers to publish a 10-year plan for social care, with detailed costings.
Queen’s Speech ‘levels up’ but not on social care
The Government has put forward its new legislative programme, with a wide range of measures set out in the Queen’s Speech to Parliament including around planning, jobs and skills, health and care reform, environment, climate change and building safety.