Councils face extra £3.6 billion in costs
Rising energy prices, spiralling inflation, and National Living Wage pressures are set to add £3.6 billion in unforeseen extra cost pressures onto council budgets in 2024/25, the LGA has warned.
In the latest issue:
£40 million to release brownfield sites for new homes
Councils in England can bid for a share of a £180 million fund designed to transform disused urban sites into new homes and create jobs.
‘Extreme heat fuelled by climate change’
The importance of funding local fire and rescue services for potential risk rather than just day-to-day demand was demonstrated by July’s heatwave, the LGA has said.
Women’s health strategy launched
The Government has published the first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England, to tackle the gender health gap.
70 per cent of councillors ‘abused and intimidated’
Seven in 10 councillors have experienced abuse and intimidation within the last 12 months, with one in 10 experiencing abuse frequently, according to the LGA’s latest councillor census.
Leaky homes costing poorest families £250 a year
Three million ‘fuel poor’ households are having to pay an extra £250 a year on average on fuel bills because of poorly insulated homes, analysis by the LGA has shown.
New digitalisation framework for councils
A joint new outcomes-based framework for improving and supporting local government digitalisation programmes has been launched by the LGA, the Society for Innovation Technology and Modernisation (Socitm), and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace).
Childhood obesity target at risk
Around 40 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds will be obese or overweight by 2030 if trends in childhood obesity continue at their current rate.
Sharp rise in children needing SEND support
The number of children in England approaching councils for special needs support has increased by almost a quarter in a year, with 170 young people now starting support plans each day.
‘Vicious cycle’ of children missing out on early support
Investment in early intervention support by councils in England halved from £3.8 billion to £1.9 billion between 2010/11 and 2020/21, according to a new report commissioned by a coalition of charities.