Ofsted warns of ‘huge challenges’
While there are many reasons to be positive about the future of education and children’s social care, huge challenges remain.
The Editorial Team
Empowering self-build and housing diversity
Councillor John O’Neill (Lib Dem) is Cabinet Member for Adults and Homes at South Gloucestershire Council.
Extra £500m for local roads
An extra half a billion pounds in annual local roads funding for councils has been pledged by the Government, from this April.
Consultation on Right to Buy reforms
Newly built social homes could be protected from sale through exemptions to the Right to Buy scheme, and tenants will have to wait longer before they can buy their homes, under reforms proposed by the Government.
Honours for councillors and mayors
More than 1,200 people from fields including local government, education, fire and rescue services, the police, health, and voluntary sector, and ranging from chief executives to foster carers, were recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List for 2025.
Children in temporary accommodation
The number of households with children living in temporary accommodation in England for at least five years has risen by almost a quarter.
Support for struggling households extended
The Government has extended its support for struggling households over the winter, following an LGA campaign.
Grenfell Inquiry publishes final report
Campaigners and survivor groups called for police to accelerate the criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire after a report found that companies operated with “systematic dishonesty” and that all 72 deaths were avoidable.
Party priorities
The LGA will be working to secure the future of local services at this autumn’s party conferences.
More ‘move on’ time needed to help house refugees
A snapshot LGA survey shows councils want more time between asylum seekers receiving a decision on their application and having to move out of Home Office accommodation.