Digital inclusion ‘needs national coordination’
Councils are working to improve digital inclusion, but progress is being hampered by funding challenges and a lack of national coordination, says LGA research.
The Editorial Team
Government gives go-ahead to rent convergence
Councils and other providers of social rent homes in England will be able to increase weekly rents on properties currently let at below the maximum that could be charged, if they were re-let to a new tenant.
£15bn Warm Homes Plan launched
The Government has launched its Warm Homes Plan, a £15 billion programme to upgrade up to five million homes, offering low- and zero-interest loans for solar panels, heat pumps and batteries.
Children placed in ‘illegal’ care homes
Nearly 800 vulnerable children in England have been placed in illegal care homes, raising serious concerns about their safety and wellbeing, according to a report by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee.
Special needs teacher training announced
The Government has announced a £200 million teacher training programme to support pupils in England with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Minister discusses Schools White Paper
School Standards Minister Georgia Gould OBE attended the LGA’s Councillors’ Forum in January, to talk about special educational needs and disabilities provision.
Rail to power northern growth
The Government has launched a new Northern Growth Strategy, with Northern Powerhouse Rail at its heart.
Funding for road maintenance
The Government has published an interactive local road-maintenance ratings map, showing how 154 English highway authorities are performing when it comes to repairing potholes and maintaining roads, grading them on a red, amber or green scale.
‘1 in 3 councils will need emergency bailout’ – LGA
The LGA called for a significant increase in resources for councils in the final local government finance settlement in England, which was expected to be published as first was going to press.
Councils ‘could face insolvency’ over SEND deficits
As first was going to press, an announcement was expected on how ministers plan to deal with councils’ mounting deficits in respect of costs for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England.