Rural and deprived areas ‘hit by dental deserts’
Persistent unequal access to NHS dental care is deepening health inequalities in England, with rural and deprived communities particularly struggling to access treatment.
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‘Invest in grassroots sports through councils’
The £400 million announced in June’s Spending Review for grassroots sports facilities should be directed towards vital local community assets, such as leisure centres, swimming pools and local gyms.
Residential care costs ‘doubled’
Residential care costs for looked-after children have almost doubled in five years, according to a new report from the National Audit Office.
Holiday programme extended
The Government has announced a £600 million extension of the Holiday Activities and Food programme in England for another three years.
Ban on selling high-caffeine drinks to U16s
The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 in England.
‘Details lacking’ on jobs and careers integration
MPs reviewing the establishment of a new jobs and careers service have warned that adult careers services face issues of accountability, with responsibility falling between two government departments and local government.
Tackling barriers to growth could unleash £276bn of economic potential
Councils across England could unleash £276 billion of untapped economic potential – equivalent to more than a tenth of national output – with government support to break down place-specific barriers to growth, according to LGA-commissioned analysis.
SEND transport costs soar
New analysis published by the LGA has found spending by councils on home-to-school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is predicted to reach nearly £2 billion this year (2025/26).
Support service for council housebuilding launched
A new initiative to help councils scale up housebuilding in their areas was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister at the LGA’s annual conference in early July.
New ‘outcomes framework’ for councils
A ‘Local Government Outcomes Framework’ and new initiatives to tackle bureaucracy were among the announcements in Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s speech to the LGA’s annual conference.