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“Public health teams in councils have been at the forefront of the tremendous local response to the pandemic and we look forward to working with the new UK Health Security Agency.”

“As this report makes clear - long-term, sustainable funding for councils is needed so they can tackle this urgent public health issue.”

“Councils are determined to build on the success of the Everyone In initiative, which has demonstrated what can be achieved when all parts of the public and voluntary sector work together to get people sleeping rough off the streets and into safe accommodation."

"Councils are leading the way tackling climate change and are committed to delivering green improvements, but have faced challenges with the competitive, short-term nature of grant funding, which requires councils to have sufficient staffing and capacity to apply."

To match the growth in overall NHS funding as part of the Long Term Plan, the Government should commit to increasing the public health grant in future years to at least £3.9 billion by 2024/25.

"Councils play a critical role in delivering sport and fitness activities and maintaining the UK’s leisure infrastructure. Leisure centres across the country have faced severe financial pressures due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and so it is good that they have been allocated additional funding to meet these challenges and reopen safely."

"After a hugely challenging time, local businesses will continue to need support. This new funding will support ongoing council efforts to help local businesses to prepare to reopen safely and successfully when restrictions start to ease."

Businesses and other services looking to reopen from Monday 29 March should ensure they carry out vital safety checks to avoid increasing the risk of the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease in their water supply, the LGA and CIEH urge.

"Had the appeal been upheld, care providers and councils providing social care would have faced massive bills, which would have increased the huge financial pressures they are already facing."

“The Government needs to urgently complete its positive ongoing review of the SEND system. This needs to set out reforms that increase mainstream inclusion, provide councils with long-term certainty of funding to meet immense demand for SEND support."