Raising local election concerns
The LGA has highlighted to MPs safety issues and the extra costs of running ballots during the pandemic.
A virtual delight
The LGA’s annual conference kicks off online from 6-8 July, with a host of expert speakers from across local and national government, other public services, business and the third sector addressing more than 1,300 delegates.
Care staff ‘could be required’ to have jab
Staff in care homes for older people in England could be required to have a COVID-10 vaccine under plans being consulted on by the Government.
Dealing with empty shops
Councils can help steer their high streets and town centres towards more mixed-use futures.
Millions ‘could be lost’ from school budgets
A total of £118 million for disadvantaged pupils could be lost from school budgets in England this year because of a government change in how this funding is calculated, new LGA analysis shows.
Vulnerable people ‘missed out’ on support
Up to 800,000 clinically vulnerable people may have missed out on government support in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, because of a lack of “joined-up systems”, according to a cross-party report by MPs.
Schools’ return is ‘first step’ out of lockdown
As first was going to press, schools in England were preparing for the return of all pupils from 8 March, as part of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Tackling domestic abuse
The LGA supports the creation of a statutory definition of domestic abuse, and the inclusion of economic abuse within this. We are also pleased to see that the new legislation will place the role of the domestic abuse commissioner on a statutory footing.
£23m vaccine boost as deaths pass 100,000
The Government has allocated more than £23 million to 60 councils and voluntary groups across England to expand work to support those most at risk from COVID-19, and to boost vaccine take-up.
Empty offices ‘could lead to poor housing conversions’
The LGA has warned that office blocks left empty following the pandemic are at risk of being turned into potentially substandard housing under permitted development rights, which allow developers to convert buildings into homes without planning permission.