Briefings and responses

Independent research for the LGA found that the cumulative impact of welfare reforms to 2020 will lead to falls in real income for many households. It is therefore vital the Government works with councils to ensure that UC is effective in incentivising work and increasing income from employment.

By devolving the skills and employment system we could better match supply with employer demand. The LGA’s Work Local proposals sets out a vision for a localised service, which would enable communities to design an offer customised to the individual need of their area.

Research commissioned by the LGA reveals that the skills gap is worsening. By 2024 there will be more than four million too few high-skilled people to take up available jobs, two million too many with intermediate skills and more than six million too many low-skilled.

We support the Government’s ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Producers must do more to ensure that packaging is easily recyclable. This would make waste disposal easier for our residents, and save considerable amounts of money, whilst protecting our environment.

Current legislation for the licensing of taxi and private hire vehicles (PHVs) is inadequate and outdated.

In order to tackle the national housing shortage, councils need to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes at scale, and fast, where these are locally needed.

Coastal towns have suffered from underfunding and underinvestment from central Government. They often have poor transport infrastructure, poor digital connectivity, poor healthcare facilities, an aging population and as a result, disproportionately high levels of deprivation.

The LGA has long highlighted that adult social care exists to enable adults of all ages and with a range of conditions to live their best life and an equal life.

By 2019/20, more than half of all English councils, including three quarters of district councils, will no longer receive the revenue support grant.

The final settlement includes an additional £190 million for local government, when compared to the indicative 2018/19 settlement announced this time last year.