Spring Budget 2024

Cost-of-living support extended

Call for school-based counselling for all

Fully funded, school-based counselling needs to be available in all state-funded secondary schools and academies, to help support rising numbers of children and young people reporting mental health issues during COVID-19, the LGA has said.

More funding needed for public health

An additional £1.4 billion a year by 2024/25 is now needed to restore the real-terms cut to the public health grant and keep pace with rising demand and costs, according to new analysis by the charity The Health Foundation.

Cabinet reshuffle

Michael Gove MP has replaced Robert Jenrick MP as local government’s Secretary of State in a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle, and has been put in charge of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.