The Government has announced an increase in the public health grant for English councils in 2025/26, to £3.858 billion – a cash uplift of 5.4 per cent, or nearly £200 million, and a real-term increase of 3 per cent.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “We are pleased the Government has increased the public health grant for councils, acting on our concerns over the significant funding pressures public health teams have been under to maintain vital services, such as sexual health services, smoking cessation programmes and drug treatment.
“It is important this marks a reset that sees government work in partnership with councils.
“Investing in public health is key to bridging the health inequality gap, improving population health and preventing ill-health, reducing the pressure on social care and the NHS.
“We are calling on the Government, in the Spending Review, to set out a long-term sustainable funding plan for public health, which will give councils the certainty they need to plan services.”