Local elections preview
The unprecedented decision to stage two cycles of English local elections at the same time means that we need to focus on the contrasting past outcomes in two separate years to make any sense of what might happen this May.
In the latest issue:
Fresh vision for early years
Seamless support and a ‘welcoming hub’ for families are among new proposals for ensuring babies and young children get the best possible start to life.
Short-termism ‘hampering’ adult social care
Short-term funding and the lack of a long-term vision for adult social care have hampered local authorities’ ability to innovate and plan for the future, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
Rising to the challenges of COVID-19
The past year has been like no other. The COVID-19 virus has taken a huge toll on our communities, with each death a terrible loss.
Local approaches to health inequalities
Inequalities such as deprivation, low income and poor housing have always meant poorer health, reduced quality of life and early death for many people
Tonnes of recycling ‘rejected at sorting point’
More than half a million tonnes of household recycling was rejected at the point of sorting in 2019/20 because of non-recyclable materials being placed in household bins, the LGA has reported.
Sleep-in shifts court ruling
The Supreme Court has ruled that the national minimum wage does not apply to hours when workers are expected to sleep, including time when care workers are paid to sleep overnight in someone’s home on a precautionary basis.
Health inequalities and dementia
Inequalities in health services, employment, housing and many other issues are having a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of minority ethnic people.
Council tenant and landlord relationships
Despite the unprecedented challenges the country has faced over the past year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 is still very present in the memories of people living and working in social housing.
Enforcing coronavirus regulations
Councils’ enforcement and compliance teams have been stretched thin in response to the pandemic.