Local authority allocations for the 2026/27 public health grant have been confirmed by the Government at £4.4 billion, a real-terms funding increase.
Upper-tier and unitary authorities will be able to use their ringfenced allocations to deliver local stop smoking services, the Swap to Stop smoking scheme, and drug and alcohol addiction treatment and employment support.
The LGA has long called for an increase to the public health grant. Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, also welcomed alignment of the grant with the local government finance settlement, the bringing together of key funding streams, and continued investment in the Swap to Stop scheme.
She added: “We support the introduction of proportionate assurance arrangements, including a sector-led public health peer review offer, to help councils demonstrate impact, share good practice, and strengthen the effectiveness of local public health systems.
“Councils are committed to using this funding to continue delivering the local services that protect health, prevent illness and reduce inequalities in our communities. However, to truly deliver on prevention and reduce demand on the NHS and social care, funding needs to keep pace with inflation and rising demand.”