Demand rising for public health funerals
More than 12 public health funerals (PHFs) are taking place every day around the country, according to new LGA research.
New registers for children not in school
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced to Parliament in December, includes plans for new registers to identify children who are not in school – something for which the LGA has lobbied for years.
Adult social care ‘needs 10-year plan’
The Government needs to co-create a 10-year plan for adult social care for the upcoming NHS long-term plan to succeed, the LGA has said.
Incineration tax cost fears
A new eco ‘incineration tax’ risks pushing councils to the brink, the LGA has warned.
Government ‘must fund NIC increases’ – LGA
Changes made to employer National Insurance contributions in October’s Budget must be fully funded in the forthcoming provisional local government finance settlement, the LGA has said.
Residents still facing hardship, warns charity
Some people have faced significant hardship over the past few years because of the cost-of-living crisis – and things are getting worse, according to Citizens Advice.
24,000 affordable homes lost to office conversions
Office-to-residential conversions under permitted development have led to the loss of 23,990 affordable homes in the past decade, according to LGA analysis of official data.
£700m bill for temporary accommodation
The freezing of local housing allowance (LHA) rates over the past five years has left councils picking up more than £700 million in costs that they are unable to claim back from government for housing people in temporary accommodation, according to LGA analysis of official data.
‘Empower local authorities to deliver more homes’
Making housebuilding targets mandatory centralises policy and weakens local decision-making powers, the LGA has warned in response to proposed planning reforms.
Prevention in adult care ‘could save billions’
Investing in preventative support in social care could significantly improve lives and save £3.17 for every £1 spent, according to a report from the LGA and sector leaders.