The Editorial Team 
Digital tools now offer councils a practical way to spot needs earlier and connect residents to help before they reach breaking point. Support for unpaid carers demonstrates the power of this approach.
Budget-setting will remain a “hugely challenging task” for many councils in England, despite confirmation of a multi-year financial settlement before Christmas, the LGA has warned.
A swathe of councillors and officers were recognised for their services to local government in the King’s New Year Honours, underlining the sector’s key contribution to national life.
Care leavers in England will receive free prescriptions, as well as dental and eye care, up to their 25th birthday, under a new package of measures announced by the Government.
Councils in England will receive £13.45 billion over the next three years for local public health services, the Government confirmed last month..
The Government has written to councils setting out its three priorities for adult social care for local authorities, alongside its ambition to establish a national care service.
There will be more specialist, calm learning spaces in mainstream schools to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the Government announced last month.
The UK Government has published its long-awaited National Plan to End Homelessness, setting out a long-term, cross-government strategy to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in England.
The cost to councils of implementing new employment reforms must be matched by new funding or public money could be diverted from vital local services, the LGA has warned.
As first was going to press, the LGA was launching a consultation with staff on restructuring the organisation.