Briefings and responses

On 26 January 2026, the Government published a Policing White Paper setting out proposals for the most significant reforms to policing in England and Wales for a generation. The White Paper seeks to address challenges in police performance, public confidence and the ability of policing to respond to serious and complex crime - whilst also restoring neighbourhood policing.

The Local Government Association (LGA) supports the introduction of a clear and comprehensive legal framework that applies to the use of biometric technologies by law enforcement organisations. From a local government perspective, clarity and consistency in the legal basis for the use of these technologies is essential to maintaining public confidence, ensuring proportionality and supporting effective partnership working at a local level.

The following questions have been answered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. They are not an exhaustive list. We will continue to add new questions and answers as and when they arise, and to work with MHCLG to provide answers as appropriate.

The LGA welcomes aspects of the settlement, including multi-year settlements and grant simplification but recognises that different councils are affected by the settlement in very different ways.

This briefing pack is designed to provide a foundational understanding of adult social care - what it is, why it matters, and how it operates within the council. It explores questions and challenges in key areas in health and adult social care from a senior leadership perspective.

18 February 2026. This response has been approved by the LGA’s Chair and Group Leaders, following consultation with Local Government Resources Committee Lead Members and the Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee.

A consultation on reforms to the SEND system, SEND reform: putting children and young people first, was published alongside the Schools White Paper and sets out a broader set of reforms which build on the proposals set out in chapter 3 of the White Paper. The LGA will be working closely with member councils in the coming weeks to shape our consultation response.

From delivering new homes, to promoting economic growth or improving the health and life chances of the most vulnerable in our society, councils are the key to solving our biggest local and national challenges.

This call for evidence follows previous Transforming Business Rates papers. There are a number of key summary points that are important to make including a system that raises sufficient resources for local priorities, adhere to the principles of sufficiency and transparency, compliance with, and avoidance of, business rates and property continues to provide a good basis for a local tax on business.