Spending Review 2020
The Chancellor’s statement offered councils some short-term financial certainty, but no long-term solutions to chronic problems such as adult social care.
‘Short-sighted’ decision on public health funding
Councils’ public health funding grant will be maintained but not increased in 2021 – a decision labelled “extremely short-sighted” by the LGA in its response to last month’s Spending Review.
EU transition funding for local ports
The Government has announced an additional £10 million for port health authorities ahead of the end of the EU transition period on 31 December.
Three-tier system ‘as clear as mud’
We saw the Prime Minister announce in October the new three-tier system, under which every area of the country will be classified as ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk during the continuing COVID-19 crisis.
Meetings for the 21st century
The failure to permit councils to continue holding online meetings is difficult to understand and impossible to excuse.
Renewing the Covenant in the Capital
In the past two years, Lewisham Council has supported Renewing the Covenant in the Capital, a Ministry of Defence project which has helped local authorities across London to audit and improve their service offer to the armed forces community.
Enforcing coronavirus regulations
Councils’ enforcement and compliance teams have been stretched thin in response to the pandemic.
Making custom and self-build part of your housing strategy
This is the year self-build and custom house building will scale up.
More people advised to shield
The number of people considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to COVID-19 and advised to shield has been expanded by an additional 1.7 million.
A roadmap to recovery
Councils will continue to do all they can to support the Government’s plans for tackling COVID-19 and reducing restrictions.