Record low turnout
Wigan’s Ashton ward has established an unenviable record, recording the lowest turnout in any council by-election: just 5.3 per cent.
Allotments for urban kids
Growing up in rural Suffolk, the abundance of the natural world was easy to take for granted. I was lucky enough to have a vegetable patch in my parents’ garden, and the chance to learn about biodiversity and sustainability was never far away.
Cost-of-living crisis ‘could increase fire risk’
Households looking for alternative and cheaper ways of lighting and heating their homes because of the cost-of-living crisis could be increasing the risk of fire, the LGA has warned.
‘120,000 children homeless over Christmas’
More than 4,500 primary school classes worth of homeless children spent Christmas in temporary accommodation, amid concerns of a national homelessness crisis.
£650m support for refugees
A new support package for refugees, announced in December, includes increased ‘thank you’ payments for longer-term hosts of Ukrainian arrivals and a £500 million fund for councils to acquire housing stock for those fleeing conflict.
Housebuilding targets ‘no longer compulsory’
Nationally set housebuilding targets will no longer be mandatory, following changes to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill currently before Parliament.
Local growth plans approved
Vital investment plans to boost business, support communities and regenerate high streets have been approved by the Government, following an LGA warning that projects were at risk because of continual delays.
Cultural services ‘key to recovery’
Local culture can be used to support mental wellbeing, provide educational opportunity and create jobs as part of the recovery from the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, according to a new LGA report.
For services to local government
The Mayor of North Tyneside and the LGA’s Deputy Chief Executive were among those from across local government to be recognised in the New Year Honours List 2023.
Funding for housing experts announced
Twenty-one councils have been successful in their applications to the LGA’s 2022/23 Housing Advisers Programme (HAP), an innovative scheme to help councils overcome housing challenges in their local areas.