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We are pleased to see a real terms increase in the grant, alongside alignment with the Local Government Finance Settlement, the bringing together of key funding streams for services and continued investment in the Swap to Stop scheme.

"Creating a smokefree generation will only be achieved through sustained prevention, legislation and a shared commitment across government, local government, health services, and communities."

“These findings reinforce the need for comprehensive reform of the SEND system, and that the Schools White Paper must consider how we fund and provide home to school transport.

“We're pleased the Government shares our aspiration that children with SEND who require support do so in a mainstream setting where appropriate; and that all children can reach their potential."

“Councils need sustainable, long-term funding to better protect the services that people rely on, as they face rising demand and increasing costs to deliver them."

The Local Government Association (LGA) is urging the Chancellor to use the Spring Statement to further stabilise council finances, warning that growing cost and demand pressures continue to push councils to the financial brink. It is good that councils have received some funding growth in recent years. A much-needed multi-year funding settlement has improved councils’ financial certainty and will help many councils to begin to rebuild after over a decade of underfunding. Local government is key to creating thriving communities and places and the achievement of national objectives. From

Devolving the visitor levy to local areas will enable significant investment in the visitor economy, boosting local attractions and tourism businesses, say councils.

“The temporary accommodation subsidy gap is a problem that is getting worse each year but is fixable" said Cllr Tom Hunt, Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee. "This would have a huge boost to council finances, money which could go towards preventing homelessness and building the homes that our communities desperately need."

Baroness Casey is right to recognise the need to elevate the true value and purpose of care and support nationally. It is encouraging that she has strongly signalled for this to be a core foundation behind her proposals for the sector’s future.

Analysis of the latest fly-tipping data shows that the average court fine for fly-tipping is £539, which is £87 lower than the £626 average fixed penalty notice (FPN) councils can issue for the same offence.