A million homes ‘awaiting development’
More than a million homes on land earmarked for development by councils have yet to be brought forward by developers for planning permission.
More than a million homes on land earmarked for development by councils have yet to be brought forward by developers for planning permission.
Councils’ public health funding grant will be maintained but not increased in 2021 – a decision labelled “extremely short-sighted” by the LGA in its response to last month’s Spending Review.
The Government has announced an additional £10 million for port health authorities ahead of the end of the EU transition period on 31 December.
The number of people considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to COVID-19 and advised to shield has been expanded by an additional 1.7 million.
The LGA has urged the Government’s review of children’s social care to consider the impact of increasing private equity and stock market involvement in the system, after publishing new research that shows the six largest independent providers of placements made £219 million in profit last year.
The Government has said it will update its housing need formula to meet its target of building 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.
The Chancellor has decided to only conduct a one-year Spending Review in order to prioritise the response to COVID-19, and focus on immediate support to create jobs.
Eight in 10 MPs say councils should have more financial freedoms and powers to build homes in their area and 72 per cent say they should have more control over local taxes, according to exclusive LGA polling by Savanta ComRes.
A grant scheme that provides support with food and bills for vulnerable households during the pandemic has been extended.
The LGA is supporting a legal challenge to a decision not to extend emergency legislation on virtual council meetings, calling it “extremely disappointing”.