Sharp rise in children needing SEND support
The number of children in England approaching councils for special needs support has increased by almost a quarter in a year, with 170 young people now starting support plans each day.
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‘Vicious cycle’ of children missing out on early support
Investment in early intervention support by councils in England halved from £3.8 billion to £1.9 billion between 2010/11 and 2020/21, according to a new report commissioned by a coalition of charities.
‘You can’t level up from Whitehall’
Strong local government should be at the forefront of the post-pandemic recovery and has a key role to play in helping the most vulnerable in society, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey told the LGA’s annual conference.
Two-year funding settlement pledge
A plethora of former and current government ministers attended the LGA’s annual conference in late June.
Culture ‘vital’ to councils
‘Culture is not just a ‘bit of fun’ but a fundamental pillar of levelling up and vital to everything from improving physical and mental health to raising educational attainment.
Local visions for growth
Trust is the missing ingredient in the Government’s plans for levelling up, according to Labour’s Lisa Nandy.
New ministerial team at DLUHC
The LGA has welcomed the appointment of new Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary Greg Clark, following the sacking of his predecessor Michael Gove by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Care users ‘struggling to recruit personal assistants’
People who draw on care and support are finding it increasingly hard to recruit and retain personal assistants (PAs), a recent survey has found.
Call to reinstate remote meetings
A year since a government call for evidence on remote meetings closed, the LGA has called for virtual and hybrid council meetings to be an integral part of the future of local democracy in England.
Polluted rivers ‘halt house building’
New LGA analysis shows that more than 7 per cent of England’s planned house building cannot go ahead because of rising pollution levels in rivers.