Investing in prevention
The Government’s finance policy statement, published in late November, outlined its intentions for the provisional local government finance settlement for 2025/26.
Councils let down by funding system
The local government funding reforms announced on 28 November are welcome.
Ministers don’t get it on National Insurance
My preliminary discussions with council leaders over recent weeks, ahead of February budget setting, continually brings to bear the reality of the Labour Government’s seismic increase to employer National Insurance contributions.
Don’t lose the ‘local’ in local government
As first was going to press, we were awaiting a delayed white paper on devolution. The Government’s intentions may be to decentralise power, but I am concerned that some of its proposals will undermine local democracy, rather than empower it.
Devolve to councils as they are
We are in tempestuous times, with UK Government announcements expected in a white paper on devolution, local government reform, and the provisional finance settlement – all in the week before Christmas.
‘Exempt care leavers from council tax’ – LGA
The LGA is calling on the Government to fund a national council tax exemption for care leavers up to the age of 25.
DPM promises privacy on councillor addresses
Changes to virtual attendance of meetings, privacy of councillors’ addresses, and standards for councillors were among the announcements from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner at the LGA’s annual conference.
‘Devolve sugar tax to councils’
The LGA has renewed calls for the soft drinks levy to be devolved to councils.