Briefings and responses

We are calling on the Government to introduce tougher sprinkler rules to ensure fire safety in high-rise buildings and care homes. 

Read our 'On the day' briefing for local government

While the LGA welcomes an overall increase in baseline funding for local authorities, are concerned that a significant proportion of the increase in core spending power for 2023/24 has been achieved through a combination of potentially one-off grants, ring-fenced funding, re-allocation of existing funding, and the assumption that local authorities will implement council tax increases. We continue to make the case for multi-year settlements and for more long-term certainty around funding and budgets.

The LGA has long highlighted that council tax rises – particularly the adult social care precept – have never been the solution to the long-term pressures faced by councils, particularly in social care which is facing severe financial and capacity challenges. Increasing council tax raises different amounts of money in different parts of the country, unrelated to need.

The Local Government Finance Settlement has provided extra money to meet COVID-19 costs, new funding for adult and children’s social care and for councils with responsibility for services such as homelessness, planning, recycling and refuse collection, which will help meet cost and demand pressures next year.

There are over 125,000 women in England and Wales estimated to be living with the consequences of FGM.

High quality early years provision can generate sustained and significant improvements on children’s outcomes, reducing disparities in later life. Wider reform of the childcare system is needed to provide a truly accessible and affordable offer for parents in every community.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the entire body of EU law into UK law, with the intention of allowing businesses to continue operating and providing fairness to individuals, knowing the rules have not changed when the UK leaves the EU.

The LGA has been part of a wide steering group on Settled Status, ensuring that the voice of local government is heard by the Home Office, offering advice around consultation with local government, and ensuring that all tiers and areas of local government are represented.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the entire body of EU law into UK law, with the intention of allowing businesses to continue operating and providing fairness to individuals, knowing the rules have not changed when the UK leaves the EU. This legal certainty must be given to councils too.