I am writing this comment piece in the week that the Government has announced the ending of all restrictions that were introduced to combat the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
I strongly welcome this development, which will hopefully signal a return to a more normal way of living, and I would like to thank all those – including councillors and councils across the country – who played their part in the successful vaccination drive that got us to this point.
While it is impossible to predict the future direction of the pandemic with any certainty, it is the case that the UK is the most boosted of any large country, and the most tested in Europe, while also having the most antiviral drugs in Europe.
Within this context, the Government will hopefully be able to focus increasingly on the various other pressing issues facing the country, many of which are of interest to us in local government.
We have already had important announcements from Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary Michael Gove in relation to cladding and building safety. Following the publication of the adult social care reform white paper, we are expecting other white papers and announcements over the coming months, across a range of areas, including: levelling up; special educational needs and disabilities; planning; waste collection; and fire governance.
Indeed, it is anticipated that the levelling up white paper will be published shortly, and – assuming that is the case – I look forward to reviewing its proposals in the next edition of first.