As first was going to press, the LGA was continuing to work closely with the Government and partners to ensure support for new arrivals from Ukraine is put in place quickly and at scale, and that families are kept safe.
The LGA has welcomed updated government guidance for councils on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and continues to work proactively with ministers to address councils’ concerns about support for new arrivals.
Councils and directors of public health have called for an urgent extension of local outbreak management funding because of rising rates of COVID-19.
The LGA is urging people to engage in positive, constructive debates ahead of the upcoming local elections.
The LGA and national adult social care organisations have called on the Government to deliver a long-term care workforce strategy and tackle the issue of care worker pay.
More than a million additional school children could receive free school meals and be entitled to extra support funding if the scheme was simplified and extended to more families.
New jobs and skills training vital to levelling up the country are at risk of delay or being lost altogether because of a looming funding gap when existing European cash runs out.
The Government should cut value added tax on the sale of vaping products to help people to stop smoking.
The LGA has welcomed an additional £500 million for councils to help vulnerable households with rising living costs, but warned that a long-term solution is needed to prevent poverty.
The Government is underestimating the costs of its adult social care reforms by at least £854 million a year.