‘Empower local authorities to deliver more homes’
Making housebuilding targets mandatory centralises policy and weakens local decision-making powers, the LGA has warned in response to proposed planning reforms.
news
7.7m households ‘in fuel stress’
There are 7.7 million households in England at risk of fuel stress this winter, including the majority of families with children, new research has found.
Health prevention ‘is not a luxury’ – LGA
Better targeting of existing money spent on health prevention could deliver an extra £11 billion annual return on investment, according to the NHS Confederation.
LGA calls for 10-year sexual health strategy
The number of heterosexual men and women newly diagnosed in England with HIV has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2022, according to the latest HIV surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency.
New renters’ protection plan announced
The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has announced a series of measures to protect renters and improve housing standards.
Falling smoking rates ‘testament’ to councils’ efforts
New figures show that around six million people aged 18 and over (11.9 per cent) smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2023 – the lowest proportion of current smokers since records began in 2011.
Children in temporary accommodation
The number of households with children living in temporary accommodation in England for at least five years has risen by almost a quarter.
Support for struggling households extended
The Government has extended its support for struggling households over the winter, following an LGA campaign.
Grenfell Inquiry publishes final report
Campaigners and survivor groups called for police to accelerate the criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire after a report found that companies operated with “systematic dishonesty” and that all 72 deaths were avoidable.
More ‘move on’ time needed to help house refugees
A snapshot LGA survey shows councils want more time between asylum seekers receiving a decision on their application and having to move out of Home Office accommodation.