Pathways to planning
Councils can sign up to hire planners to start work in September 2025, via the LGA’s ‘Pathways to Planning’ graduate scheme.
The Editorial Team
Additional funding for councils ‘falls short’
The UK Government has announced additional funding for councils in England, including towards the cost of increases in employers’ National lnsurance contributions – as called for by the LGA in December (see first 700).
Devolution ‘must not distract from funding’
Two-tier council areas will be forced to reorganise if they don’t come up with their own plans under proposals set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper.
Local government set mandatory housing targets
Councils must meet new mandatory housing targets as part of government plans to build 1.5 million homes by the next general election.
New registers for children not in school
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced to Parliament in December, includes plans for new registers to identify children who are not in school – something for which the LGA has lobbied for years.
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.
Call for urgent reform of council funding
An outdated and complex funding model is hindering councils’ ability to plan effectively and meet the growing needs of their communities, according to a new report.
Casey to chair new adult social care commission
The Government is launching an adult social care commission to “build cross-party consensus” for its proposed new national care service.