Election delays damage public confidence
The past year has been unsettled for local government.
Child poverty strategy published
The Government’s new UK-wide ‘Tackling Child Poverty’ strategy aims to lift more than half a million children out of poverty through measures including expanding childcare for families on Universal Credit, cost savings on baby formula, and ending the long-term placement of families in B&B accommodation.
Autumn Budget 2025
November’s Autumn Budget included several proposals impacting on councils and their communities.
How procurement can drive stronger local services and communities
The UK’s local government sector can free up much-needed cash by tackling the way it buys everyday items used in the world of work – meaning more time for staff and better value for local communities
Budget ‘doesn’t address pressures on council finances’
Local government finances remain “under severe pressure”, the LGA has warned, after last week’s Budget failed to provide significant increased funding.
Government ‘to fund SEND’
The Government has pledged to fund the full cost of provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from 2028/29.
Children in care ‘up 18 per cent’
The number of looked-after children in England is almost 18 per cent higher than 10 years ago, with 81,770 in the care of councils as of 31 March 2025.
Beyond stability: the future of local government
With the draft Welsh budget and provisional local government settlement now published, we have a clearer picture of the landscape in which councils will be operating over the next year.
