24,000 affordable homes lost to office conversions
Office-to-residential conversions under permitted development have led to the loss of 23,990 affordable homes in the past decade, according to LGA analysis of official data.
The Editorial Team
£700m bill for temporary accommodation
The freezing of local housing allowance (LHA) rates over the past five years has left councils picking up more than £700 million in costs that they are unable to claim back from government for housing people in temporary accommodation, according to LGA analysis of official data.
‘Empower local authorities to deliver more homes’
Making housebuilding targets mandatory centralises policy and weakens local decision-making powers, the LGA has warned in response to proposed planning reforms.
Prevention in adult care ‘could save billions’
Investing in preventative support in social care could significantly improve lives and save £3.17 for every £1 spent, according to a report from the LGA and sector leaders.
National recruitment campaign launched
People wanting to work in local government and make a direct impact on local residents’ lives have the chance to find out more with the launch of a new national recruitment campaign.
7.7m households ‘in fuel stress’
There are 7.7 million households in England at risk of fuel stress this winter, including the majority of families with children, new research has found.
13,000 children’s social workers needed – LGA
The number of children’s social workers employed by councils will need to increase by 13,000 – nearly a third – over the next decade because of growing need and to reduce increasing reliance on agency staff.
Health prevention ‘is not a luxury’ – LGA
Better targeting of existing money spent on health prevention could deliver an extra £11 billion annual return on investment, according to the NHS Confederation.
Local government backs ambitions for smoke-free generation
The Government has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament, pledging to create a smoke-free generation, phasing out the sale of tobacco products to anyone aged 15 or younger this year.
LGA calls for 10-year sexual health strategy
The number of heterosexual men and women newly diagnosed in England with HIV has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2022, according to the latest HIV surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency.