The Editorial Team 
The pandemic has triggered a rapid acceleration in the use of technology, but also highlighted pre-existing inequalities in access to IT, the co-founder of dot.com business Last Minute told the LGA’s annual conference.
Opposition leaders have criticised the Government’s proposed planning reforms, calling them a “developers’ charter” and “wrong-headed”.
Local government will be able to showcase its work on climate change during a dedicated cities, regions and built environment day at the UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November.
The LGA’s flagship political leadership programme is celebrating its 200th course.
More than nine in 10 councillors from across the country and political spectrum have called on government to give greater priority to social care and start committing more resources to it now.
Placing councils at the heart of the Government’s levelling up ambitions would help create job and career opportunities where they are most needed as the nation recovers from the pandemic, the LGA has said.
The LGA has set up an information hub to help newly elected members get to grips with their role.
Council by-elections resumed for English authorities on 6 May, with more than 350 vacancies filled.
Investing in libraries is key to driving the national recovery from COVID-19 and enabling children to catch up on lost learning, the LGA has said.
The LGA is seeking to influence a range of new legislation that affects the work of councils.