Councils warn of new scams
The LGA has warned that criminals are cold calling residents asking for their bank details so they can receive the Government’s £150 energy rebate.
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Local elections dilemma
With the final result in the London Borough of Havering declared fully 96 hours after the polls closed, this year’s local elections truly were a slow burn.
Consultation launched on fire service governance
The Government has reiterated its preference for fire and rescue services to be accountable to a single, elected individual, in its long-awaited fire reform White Paper.
Weight management funding ‘reallocated’
Government funding for council-commissioned weight management services will not be renewed in the current financial year, councils have been told.
Councils ‘best placed’ to make waste decisions
Ending charges for disposing of DIY waste at household recycling centres will put unnecessary pressure on refuse departments and won’t improve services, the LGA warns.
MAT powers for councils
Councils will be given powers to set up their own multi-academy trusts, following many years of campaigning by the LGA.
18,000 affordable homes ‘lost’ to permitted development
More than 18,000 affordable houses have been lost as a result of office-to-residential conversions under permitted development.
New vision for SEND
The Government has set out its vision for a single, national, special educational needs and disability (SEND) and alternative provision system that ‘sets clear standards’ for the support given to children.
Illegal tobacco sales exacerbating health inequalities
Smokers could increasingly turn to illicit tobacco, which can be sold for as little as half market price, to cut costs, the LGA has warned.
Health and safety concerns for private renters
Councils increasingly do not have the capacity and capability to provide ‘appropriate and consistent protection for private renters’, according to a new report from the Public Accounts Committee.