A joint endeavour
With a Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) under way, I have been writing to ministers on behalf of the LGA’s member councils.
Keeping in touch with members
As the summer comes to an end and autumn approaches, I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy some time off after what has been a very busy six months for us all.
Will warnings on council finances go unheeded?
Another week, another U-turn – this time, the botched A-level results saga. And a government that claims to be ‘levelling up’ has proved once again that this is just one more empty slogan to add to the pile.
Riding roughshod over local communities
We finally saw the Government’s planning reforms, sneaked out at midnight on a Wednesday, just before the start of the summer holidays.
Planning ‘does not prevent development’
August was dominated by new government proposals on planning, scene setting for a White Paper on recovery and reorganisation, and the school exams fiasco.
Social care ‘needs extra winter funding’
Social care needs extra funding to help it deal with the aftermath of coronavirus and prepare for winter, alongside a long-term funding settlement, according to a new report from the NHS Confederation.
Localising test and trace
Councils are to get additional national resources to help them reach more people with COVID-19.
Social care principles unveiled
Adult social care needs a reset and must not simply revert back to the way it was prior to the pandemic, the LGA has said.
Spending review 2020 kicks off
Securing the long-term sustainability of local services must be the top priority of the Government’s 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review, the LGA has said.
‘Keep planning local’
As first was going to press, a policy paper was expected from the Government setting out its proposals to radically overhaul the planning system.