Government announces priority devolution deals
Elections to eight English councils, due to take place this May, will be postponed until 2026 to help pave the way for six new devolution deals.
The Editorial Team
Funding for NICs confirmed
Overall funding for local government in England will increase by 6.8 per cent in cash terms compared with 2024/25, according to the final finance settlement, published in early February.
Right to Buy reforms ‘should go further’
The Government should go further with reforming Right to Buy to give local authorities more flexibility and control over how the scheme operates locally, the LGA has said.
SEND in state of emergency – MPs
MPs have warned that a ‘lost generation’ of children could leave school without having received the help they need, with the LGA calling for a plan for reform.
LGA: ‘Invest in local digital transformation’
The LGA has reiterated its call for a Local Government Centre for Digital Technology, in response to announcements on digital services and artificial intelligence (AI).
Public health grant increased
The Government has announced an increase in the public health grant for English councils in 2025/26, to £3.858 billion – a cash uplift of 5.4 per cent, or nearly £200 million, and a real-term increase of 3 per cent.
‘Trillion-pound’ cost of children’s mental health
New research has warned the mental health crisis facing children and young people will prevent the Government from boosting economic growth, as well as having an impact on the lives of thousands of young people.
Violence against women ‘significant and growing’
Violence against women and girls remains a “significant and growing problem”, affecting one in 12 women in England and Wales and causing significant physical, mental, social and financial harm to survivors.
‘Unsustainable’ pressure from homelessness
Record homelessness levels are placing unsustainable pressure on local authorities, the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee has warned.
Ofsted proposes fairer education inspections
Ofsted has announced proposals for fairer education inspections and new, more detailed report cards.