Borrowing cap win leads to house building boost
Almost all stock-owning councils plan to accelerate or increase their house building programmes following the lifting of the housing borrowing cap last year, according to an LGA survey.
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‘Council tax rise won’t stop care cuts’
Council tax rises in 2019/20 will not bring in enough money to prevent further cutbacks to the care that millions of older and disabled people rely on every day, the LGA has warned.
Spending on children’s centres falls
Children’s centres face an uncertain future, with figures showing councils have been forced to cut their spending on the service by nearly a quarter in four years.
Sprinklers needed for fire safety
Tougher sprinkler rules must be introduced to ensure fire safety in high-rise buildings and care homes, the LGA has urged.
No new funding from Chancellor
A consultation on infrastructure finance, £100 million to help tackle knife crime, and free sanitary products for girls in secondary schools were among the announcements in March’s Spring Statement.
Cash for nursery schools
The Government is to give an additional £24 million to councils to help them fund maintained nursery schools in 2019/20, following campaigning by the LGA.
Health visitors ‘in decline’
Children’s health visitors have seen a significant fall in numbers and investment is urgently needed to help safeguard the future of our youngest generation, the LGA has said.
Youth justice funding uncertainty
Councils have called on the Government not to reduce the funding they receive to tackle youth offending, for fear of undermining efforts to stop children joining gangs and getting involved in violent crime.
Modern slavery referrals soar
Council referrals of potential victims of modern slavery have soared nine-fold in five years, highlighting the demands on local authority services, the LGA has warned.
Positive results for troubled families
The Troubled Families Programme has reduced juvenile convictions, the number of adults claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, and the proportion of children going into care, according to a recent national evaluation.