Early years reform guidance published
The Government has published updated guidance supporting councils to ensure childcare providers make all additional charges clear and upfront to parents.
The Editorial Team
Improving councillor diversity
Councils have an important role to play in promoting local democracy and participation, and culture change and community outreach can make a difference.
LGA calls for national strategy on health inequalities
The Government is being urged to introduce a national health inequalities strategy to tackle England’s widening health gap, in a new report from the LGA.
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.
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.