Tackling FGM
As ever, this last month in Westminster has been busy for local government.
As ever, this last month in Westminster has been busy for local government.
MPs formally approved the 2019/20 local government finance settlement on 5 February, confirming councils’ funding for the next year.
The Chancellor’s recent Spring Statement provided another platform for the LGA to promote its messages about local government finances and funding in Parliament, ahead of this year’s Spending Review.
While all eyes are on Britain’s departure from the European Union, there is another process taking place in Westminster that will have an equally significant impact on the country over the next few years.
Ahead of the 2019 Spending Review, the LGA will continue to make the case for additional resources to protect local services now, and for a sustainable funding settlement in the future – just as it did in the run-up to December’s provisional local government finance settlement.
While it may feel like 2019 has started where 2018 left off, with Brexit very much the focus of Parliament and the Government, work has continued on a number of important issues such as health and social care.
The Prime Minister’s announcement that the Government will scrap the cap on how much councils can borrow to build new homes was the culmination of a successful 2018 conference season for the LGA and local government.
With normal service resumed in Parliament following the summer recess, a number of important bills are being discussed in both the House of Commons and House of Lords.