News

​​​​​​​Taxpayers will continue to subsidise planning services by almost £5 million a week until the Government finalises measures to increase fees to cover the cost of processing applications, councils warn today.

It is clear that the success of the vaccination programme has allowed us to live with COVID-19. But the threat of new variants still remains a concern, particularly for those who are more vulnerable in our communities.

"Embracing new ways of working at national and local level will be key to ensuring all communities have the same levels of access to achieve healthier lifestyles.”

"Short-term local solutions are still needed to address environmental concerns about river pollution. Councils are calling for a doubling down on long-term action to protect rivers by focusing reducing pollution at source."

Spending on local road repairs in the UK has been reduced by more than nearly all other OECD countries in almost two decades, new Local Government Association analysis reveals today.

“Councils are on the side of all road users and residents, and are working hard to tackle congestion, make our air cleaner and improve the quality of life in their communities.  We want to work with government to achieve this."

We remain concerned that additional funding for children’s social care reform is significantly lower than that recommended by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.

“We are pleased to see the recognition of the great results from councils who have adapted their services based on recommendations, and it is positive that in 99.3 per cent of cases councils are implementing recommendations made."

"We are concerned that this is being rolled out too quickly, with inadequate local engagement meaning that other agencies risk being unable to pick up any increases in demand for their services."

“It is crucial now that government, industry and councils all put the foot to the floor in planning full implementation from 2025, and that Government extend EPR to cover other material types beyond just packaging.”