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Responding to Office for Health Improvement and Disparities figures showing that the number of people accessing drug and alcohol treatment services has increased.

“Levelling up should be led by evidence of where crucial investment needs to go to, not based on costly competitive bids between areas."

"We are pleased the review recognises the importance of local government in delivering net zero", said Cllr David Renard, Environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association.

“While it is good the Government will continue to help the public sector as well as businesses keep their energy bills lower and provided some certainty for the next 12 months, we remain deeply concerned about the risk to some council services."

“It is disappointing that so much of the current narrative on social care implies it exists solely to ease pressure on the NHS.”

Tougher powers are needed for councils to oversee and regulate out-of-school settings (OOSS) – including being able to shut down illegal schools – after an independent report commissioned by the Government uncovered major safeguarding concerns. The Department for Education funded a pilot in 16 council areas over an 18-month period into the oversight of OOSS, examining safeguarding risks and existing legal powers available to councils. OOSS is a wide range of provision including uniformed organisations, sports and leisure clubs, supplementary schools, faith-based organisations and arts clubs

“A sustainable NHS depends on a sustainable social care system. Instead, the social care system is suffering from long-term underfunding and high vacancy levels across the workforce.”

Everybody should have the chance to work or retrain, to help increase their aspirations and skills to realise their potential. The labour market has changed significantly in recent years and continues to adapt, so people need joined up local support.

“The increase in local government core spending power next year, confirmed in today’s provisional settlement, will help councils deal with inflationary and other cost pressures they face.

“The Government must now ensure that funding is made available to respond to the significant resource and capacity requirements needed to successfully implement Martyn’s Law.”