Early pandemic response was ‘public health failure’
Councils could have been given a greater role in the initial response to COVID-19, a new cross-party report by MPs has said.
The Editorial Team
Press ahead with rural and urban devolution, say MPs
The Government should press ahead with further devolution in England and examine the case for devolving greater powers over services, including health, housing, planning and education, MPs have said.
Leadership of care and health under review
A Government review of health and social care leadership must work closely with local government to utilise councils’ expertise and help inform its recommendations, the LGA has said.
Care vacancies ‘higher than pre-covid’
More social care jobs are unfilled than before the pandemic, with care providers facing acute problems in recruiting and retaining staff, according to a workforce charity.
‘One in 10 will have diabetes by 2030’
Almost one in 10 people in the UK will have diabetes by 2030 amid rising levels of obesity, according to Diabetes UK.
More funding needed for public health
An additional £1.4 billion a year by 2024/25 is now needed to restore the real-terms cut to the public health grant and keep pace with rising demand and costs, according to new analysis by the charity The Health Foundation.
Afghan resettlement funding announced
The Government has announced the funding councils will receive for resettling Afghan citizens in the UK and asked for more local authorities to “step up” and offer places.
Cabinet reshuffle
Michael Gove MP has replaced Robert Jenrick MP as local government’s Secretary of State in a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle, and has been put in charge of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
£7bn fund to tackle city job losses
Half a million jobs in town and city centres are at risk because of the impact of the pandemic, as people continue to work from home, according to exclusive analysis commissioned by the LGA.
Pandemic ‘could boost’ rural and coastal areas
A rise in people ‘staycationing’, population movement away from urban areas and a greater focus on the green economy could all help deliver a £51 billion a year economic boost to rural areas.