Briefings and responses

The LGA continues to campaign for a locally led planning system and this is particularly important as we rebuild and recover from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an acceleration of changes to the reasons people visit and use high streets. Data for November 2020 shows that footfall is at 45 percent compared to the same period last year. Before the pandemic, footfall had dropped over 10 per cent in the last 7 years. Internet sales had risen to 21 per cent of all retail sales at the end of 2019 compared to 7 per cent a decade earlier, and during the height of the national lockdown period in May this had jumped to nearly 33 per cent of all retail sales.

We welcome the introduction of the Fire Safety Bill (FSB) and hope it will be an important step in the right direction. We are concerned about some of the practicalities of the Bill, how it aligns with the building safety proposals the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is preparing, and the costs it may impose on councils and other building owners.

The Elections Bill introduces new provisions for and amends existing electoral law with the aim of making UK elections more secure, modern, inclusive and transparent.

As the UK leaves the European Union, it is important that any future relationship with the EU explicitly meets the needs of the UK health and care sector.

Councils are working tirelessly to protect lives, livelihoods and the most vulnerable in our communities. They have ensured that our most important public services keep running successfully.  

The Domestic Abuse Bill introduces important measures which will help to raise awareness of domestic abuse and will go some way to providing additional support to domestic abuse victims and helping to challenge perpetrator’s behaviour. It is a positive step in the right direction.

Since its launch in May 2013, over 100 councils across the country have signed the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.

A diverse range of bus services operate outside England’s major cities, from inter-urban connectors through small networks around towns to relatively long-distance services often providing the only transport link to small communities other than a private car.

We are concerned by the lack of consultation undertaken ahead of the Information Commissioner’s Office new charging model being laid before Parliament.