Councils and other providers of social rent homes in England will be able to increase weekly rents on properties currently let at below the maximum that could be charged, if they were re-let to a new tenant.
The Government has launched its Warm Homes Plan, a £15 billion programme to upgrade up to five million homes, offering low- and zero-interest loans for solar panels, heat pumps and batteries.
Nearly 800 vulnerable children in England have been placed in illegal care homes, raising serious concerns about their safety and wellbeing, according to a report by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee.
The Government has announced a £200 million teacher training programme to support pupils in England with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
School Standards Minister Georgia Gould OBE attended the LGA’s Councillors’ Forum in January, to talk about special educational needs and disabilities provision.
The Government has launched a new Northern Growth Strategy, with Northern Powerhouse Rail at its heart.
The Government has published an interactive local road-maintenance ratings map, showing how 154 English highway authorities are performing when it comes to repairing potholes and maintaining roads, grading them on a red, amber or green scale.
The LGA called for a significant increase in resources for councils in the final local government finance settlement in England, which was expected to be published as first was going to press.
As first was going to press, an announcement was expected on how ministers plan to deal with councils’ mounting deficits in respect of costs for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England.
Giving children from low-income households access to similar opportunities to their peers during school holidays improves children’s health and wellbeing, promotes healthy eating, boosts school attendance, and improves inclusivity for children with special educational needs and disabilities.