Public ‘not prepared for climate change’
Just 5 per cent of the British public feel prepared for climate change, according to an LGA poll.
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Government rejects four-day week
Councils in England have been told not to adopt four-day working weeks and the only council currently trialling such a scheme has been put under review.
Empty homes rise 10 per cent
The number of long-term empty homes in England has increased by nearly 10 per cent over the past five years – the equivalent of just over 1 per cent of the country’s housing stock, according to a new report from the LGA and the Empty Homes Network.
Vouchers for infant milk ‘need 20 per cent uplift’
The value of the Healthy Start scheme needs to increase by 20 per cent to compensate for increases in the cost of food, new LGA analysis has found.
Asylum seeker hotels to close
Fifty hotels will be closed to asylum seekers by January, the Government has announced.
‘Good’ ratings in pilot CQC assessments
Four of the five local authorities helping pilot new adult social care assessments have been given ‘good’ indicative ratings by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Largest children’s care providers ‘made £300m profit’
The largest independent providers of children’s social care made profits of more than £300 million last year, according to an LGA-commissioned report.
‘Record’ numbers in temporary accommodation
The number of households living in temporary accommodation in England rose 89 per cent over the past decade to 104,000 households at the end of March 2023 – the highest figures since records began in 1998.
£8.3bn boost for road repairs
The Government has announced £8.3 billion of extra funding, re-directed from HS2, to help improve local roads in England.
Views sought on future of local government
Council leaders and chief executives are being invited to share their views about what is needed in local areas, to help inform the LGA’s work on a Local Government White Paper.