News

Cllr Louise Gittins has today announced her intention to stand down as Chair of the Local Government Association.

"To ensure equitable access to testing and treatment, improve prevention, and tackle health inequalities, sexual health services must be adequately resourced with sustained investment, particularly where demand is concentrated among young people and higher-risk groups.

“A year on, the volume of vapes in our bins has dropped, but industry has moved faster than regulation – the products causing fires in our bin lorries today are effectively the same disposables in a different shell.

Without an independent, locally rooted voice to challenge and represent communities, there is a risk of duplication and gaps in accountability.

“As a member-led, cross-party national organisation, the LGA exists to ensure local government can speak powerfully with one voice to national government on the challenges facing councils and communities."

"Key solution measures need to include a stronger role for local government to help ensure the local offer at post-16 improves, and a focus on a place-based integrated service that enables us to tailor provision to the needs of our local young people."

“We have long-called for action to address the unsustainable cost pressures in children’s social care and greater powers for councils to shape thriving local communities.

“Local government is at its strongest when we speak with one voice to national government on the many challenges facing our sector right now, including the acute pressures that councils face along with the ever-increasing demand for their services that so many people rely upon every day.

"Our Sector Support Offer for 2026/27 ensures that every authority, regardless of size or resources, can access high-quality, practical support when they need it most."

“It’s vitally important we improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged children as they will benefit most from early education and childcare. This will be crucial to achieving the Government’s good level of development target.