LGA | LocalGov


Council chiefs call for solar panels on new builds 28/04/2025 All new homes should have solar panels installed to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for households, council leaders say.
Concern over 'procrastination culture' at Southampton 11/04/2025 A ‘procrastination culture' is holding back progress at Southampton City Council, a new report has found.
LGA updates business plan amid reorganisation shake-up 09/04/2025 The Local Government Association (LGA) is working on a new business plan as mayors increasingly reject its advances.
East Midlands mayor suggests LGA not the right 'fit' 17/03/2025 East Midlands mayor Claire Ward has said the Local Government Association ‘might not be' the place where combined and strategic authorities ‘fit'.
Council leader stands down to focus on LGA role 25/02/2025 Cllr Joe Harris, the leader of Cotswold District Council, has announced he is stepping down to focus on his Local Government Association (LGA) role.
End of statutory override could leave half of councils insolvent 19/02/2025 More than half of unitary and upper tier councils could be unable to balance their books when the statutory override for special needs spending expires, a survey has found.
Call for reorganisation support 14/02/2025 A senior sector figure has called for the Local Government Association (LGA) and Whitehall to offer education and training to those about to go through reorganisation.
Call for national health inequalities strategy 04/02/2025 A new Local Government Association report has called on the Government to introduce a national strategy to tackle health inequalities in England.
Concern over new audit body 04/02/2025 Ministers have been warned against overreach with the creation of the Local Audit Office (LAO).
Government urged to ‘empower’ councils as digital plans unveiled 21/01/2025 Council bosses have urged the Government to ‘empower’ local authorities after it set out new plans to overhaul digital technology and AI usage in public services.
Rebels with a cause 16/01/2025 The Local Government Association (LGA) has been warned some members could quit over its stance on reorganisation as it faces an internal rebellion.
LGA: Councils with ‘scarce resources’ need reorganisation support 13/01/2025 Councils that have bid to be on the fast-track for new devolution deals and reorganisation need extra funding and a quick decision on local elections, the LGA says.
Care sector faces ‘most difficult’ months in years 16/12/2024 Organisations working in social care have warned that without new funding the coming months will be ‘the most difficult we’ve seen in recent years.’
Sector call for council tax review 13/12/2024 Local government has called for a ‘fundamental review of council tax' in a long-awaited report.
LGA overhaul mooted after 'big conversation' 12/12/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) could be overhauled as part of efforts to increase its influence, The MJ understands.
LGA: National Insurance hit could be £1.7bn 05/12/2024 The impact of employer National Insurance Contribution increases on external providers and contractors could be up to £1.13bn, Local Government Association (LGA) analysis has shown.
Government to create first ever men’s health strategy 28/11/2024 The Government has committed to creating the first strategy for men’s health – something council bosses have been calling for.
Call for funding for ‘under threat’ youth services 28/11/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for a funding boost to prevent cuts to youth services.
Swindon facing 'existential' financial crisis 12/11/2024 Swindon BC is ‘facing a burning financial platform' with cost pressures of around £9m but ‘mitigating actions' not fully identified, finds peer challenge.
Council recruitment drive launches across England 04/11/2024 A national recruitment campaign has launched to encourage people to work for their local council.
Budget: Council chiefs call for ‘explicit clarity’ on NI increases 31/10/2024 Council leaders have welcomed the £1.3bn funding boost but called for clarity on protection from increases to employer National Insurance contributions.
Councils facing ‘social care blackhole’, Lib Dems warn 24/10/2024 Councils are facing a ‘social care blackhole’ in their finances, according to the Liberal Democrats.
Councils call for full waste service costs under EPR 23/10/2024 Council bosses have urged the Government to ensure local authorities receive the full costs for delivering waste and recycling services under new packaging reforms.
LGA warning over audit fees 22/10/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned it is ‘very likely' there will be ‘significant' audit fee variations as the accounts backlog is eliminated.
Disgraced peer Hanningfield dies 22/10/2024 Former leader of Essex CC and peer Lord Hanningfield has died.
One in four councils likely to request exceptional financial support 21/10/2024 One in four English councils believe they will have to apply for exceptional financial support (EFS) in the next two years without additional funding, research has revealed.
One in five councillors threatened with violence 21/10/2024 More than a fifth of councillors in a new Local Government Association (LGA) survey said they had received a threat of violence in their role.
Housing targets ‘weaken local decision making’, LGA warns 03/10/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns that mandatory housebuilding targets for councils centralise policy and weaken local decision making.
'Scant' budget report criticised by peer review 02/10/2024 A finance peer review of East Hertfordshire DC has criticised the lack of information in a budget report.
Council bosses call for men’s health strategy 27/08/2024 The ‘silent health crisis’ facing men in England should be a national concern, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
LGA: Minister’s stance on hybrid meetings ‘encouraging’ 19/08/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it was ‘encouraging’ that the new Government signalled an openness to discussing hybrid council meetings.
United call following homelessness surge 08/08/2024 The local government sector has united to call for urgent action following a surge in the number of homeless families.
Councils hit new low in value for money survey 07/08/2024 The number of people who believe they are getting value for money from local authorities is falling, according to a survey for the Local Government Association (LGA).
Culture funding under threat from bidding system 31/07/2024 Local government culture funding is under threat ‘due to the multitude of funding streams as well as the system for funding bids’, the LGA warns.
Local housing deals could deliver 200k social homes 30/07/2024 Implementation of five-year local housing deals by 2025 would lead to 200,000 additional social homes being built over the next three decades, report finds.
Landmark report finds SEND system ‘broken’ 25/07/2024 Major reforms introduced a decade ago have failed to improve educational outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a report has found.
Minister voices concern over districts' role in devolution 22/07/2024 District councils should be handed a greater role in devolution talks, a minister has said.
LGA launches framework for digital transformation 12/07/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a new framework to support councils as they digitalise.
LGA chair: Councils need to 'keep' up with new Government 11/07/2024 The Local Government Association's new chair has emphasised the need for councils to show they can ‘keep up' with Labour's ambitious programme for Government.
Councillors celebrate General Election success 05/07/2024 A string of high-profile figures from the local government sector are celebrating victory in the General Election.
Homelessness spending triples in eight years 02/07/2024 The proportion of councils’ total housing budget spent on homelessness and temporary accommodation has tripled since 2015, new analysis has revealed.
All change 27/06/2024 Cheshire West and Chester leader Louise Gittins has emerged as the frontrunner to be the next chair of the Local Government Association, The MJ understands.
‘Talk more’ about social care, party leaders told 21/06/2024 Political parties must do more to acknowledge the value of adult social care in the run up to the General Election, sector leaders have argued.
Council told to tackle safeguarding backlog 14/06/2024 A Local Government Association peer challenge urged Cumberland Council to take immediate action on a ‘significant’ safeguarding backlog.
Councils looking after record 576k children with SEND 13/06/2024 Local authorities are looking after record numbers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), council chiefs warn.
‘Existential crisis’ for councils as £6bn funding gap revealed 06/06/2024 A new Local Government White Paper has uncovered a £6.2bn funding gap facing councils in England over the next two years.
Growth at heart of LGA White Paper 03/06/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for powers and funding so that councils can take a leading role in driving inclusive growth.
LGA axes conference due to election clash 24/05/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has officially cancelled its annual conference after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the General Election that clashed with the event.
LGA announces 2024/25 Sector Support programme 12/04/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has announced the 2024/25 Sector Support programme to help councils ‘deliver critical services to communities.’
Northumberland has ‘further to go’ 13/03/2024 Northumberland CC has ‘further to go’ despite progress on its improvement journey, a report has found.
LGA moves towards performance support role 14/02/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) is to take a more proactive role as it seeks to do more to prevent Whitehall intervention in councils, The MJ understands.
Consultation on audit reset proposals launched 09/02/2024 Proposals to reset the local audit system and clear the backlog of accounts have been officially unveiled.
Disposable vapes to be banned 29/01/2024 Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK to protect children’s health, the Government announced today.
LGA calls for family hubs extension 10/01/2024 Council bosses have called for an extension of the family hubs programme after the Government announced that all local authorities involved in the scheme offer access to a centre.
LGA appoints new chief exec 04/01/2024 Surrey County Council boss Joanna Killian has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA).
Call for greater drug use surveillance 18/12/2023 Council chiefs have called for greater regulation and surveillance of the use of illegal drugs in response to what they have called ‘worrying new trends’.
Swindon’s finances on a ‘cliff edge’ 14/12/2023 Axing 80 jobs is one proposal among a raft of measures under consideration by Swindon Borough Council as it seeks to cover a £14m shortfall.
Dudley's sustainability 'in jeopardy' 11/12/2023 Dudley MBC has set up an improvement board following stark warnings over its finances and governance.
Councils call for support after ‘stark’ climate change warnings 11/12/2023 Local authority leaders have said they need support to prepare communities for climate change after a stark report described the impacts of changing temperatures on people’s health.
LGA poised to shift position on Right to Buy 06/12/2023 Smith Square is poised to amend its position on Right to Buy, The MJ has learned.
One in five councils report bankruptcy fears 06/12/2023 A poll of council leaders and chief executives has revealed that one in five think it likely that their chief finance officer will need to issue a Section 114.
Thousands of refugees face homelessness at Christmas, LGA warns 29/11/2023 The Government’s push to clear the asylum backlog is putting ‘tens of thousands’ of refugees at risk of homelessness over Christmas, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Council reprimanded after suffering Cyber attack 28/11/2023 Gloucester City Council has pledged lessons will be learnt following a reprimand from a data watchdog over a Cyber attack.
LGA seeks views on improvement framework 28/11/2023 The LGA has called on those working in or with local government to provide feedback on how the improvement and assurance framework can be improved.
MPs launch inquiry into controversial watchdog 24/11/2023 An inquiry looking at the remit of the controversial Office for Local Government (Oflog) was launched by MPs today.
Sector unites in plea to chancellor 22/11/2023 The local government sector in England has put out a call to Jeremy Hunt to ‘address the significant financial challenges faced by councils’.
LGA responds to councillor’s ceasefire email 21/11/2023 The LGA has spoken out after a councillor threatened to name locally elected members who did not sign up to support a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
Temporary accommodation costs mount to £1.74bn 27/10/2023 English councils spent £1.74bn on temporary accommodation last year, research has found as more than 100 local authorities signed up to an ‘emergency’ housing summit.
LGA: involve councils in asylum hotel decisions 25/10/2023 Councils want an active role in decisions about ending hotel use for asylum seekers, local government bosses have said.
Councils ‘held back’ on net zero 24/10/2023 The organisations that represent English councils have collaborated in a call for the Government to change its approach on delivering net zero.
'Devolution hopes rest on combined authorities' 24/10/2023 Combined authorities represent the greatest hope for devolution in England, according to a new report based on interviews with 95 former ministers and Whitehall mandarins.
Councils welcome waste reform flexibility but await details on costs 23/10/2023 Councils were relieved not to lose all local discretion in the Government’s waste collection reforms but have said questions remain, including over funding.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector to plot solutions for 'broken' finance system 18/10/2023 Local government is planning to collectively come up with some innovative ideas about how the ‘broken’ finance system could be improved, The MJ has been told.
Chiefs' new professional development framework launched 17/10/2023 The first version of a new professional development framework to keep local government chief executives ‘ahead of the game’ has been launched.
LGA claims ‘so much more could have been done’ in pandemic 04/10/2023 Councils were held back from effectively tackling the challenges of the pandemic by central Government, it has been claimed.
New programme to help councils with climate change goals 03/10/2023 A sustainability programme has been launched by the Local Government Association (LGA) to help councils reach carbon reduction targets.
Council's ‘low-risk approach’ questioned 02/10/2023 A council has been urged by Local Government Association (LGA) peers to take more risks to improve its financial outlook.
Lords block plans to scrap nutrient neutrality rules 14/09/2023 The Government’s attempt to scrap nutrient neutrality rules has been defeated in the House of Lords.
'Clarity' promised on waste reforms 12/09/2023 More certainty on the Government’s waste reform programme has been promised after mandarins were taken to task over delays.
LGA: Section 114s show system is 'broken' 11/09/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) will cite the number of section 114 notices issued by councils as evidence of a ‘broken’ system.
Councils press for more stringent air quality targets 06/09/2023 Local authorities have dismissed claims air pollution targets cannot be met by 2030.
New NHS dentists not going to areas most in need 24/08/2023 Council bosses have raised concerns that new dentists working for the NHS are not going to the areas that need them most.
Councils face £18m bill from new housing standards 08/08/2023 Local authorities could be stuck with an £18m bill to implement new government housing standards, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Councils told to 'step up' on refugee housing 19/07/2023 The Government has told councils to ‘step up’ efforts to provide permanent homes for Afghan refugees, having served legal notices to quit to those in hotels.
Minister: Oflog won't spot every council failure 04/07/2023 In his speech to the LGA conference this week, levelling up secretary Michael Gove officially launched the Office for Local Government (Oflog).
LGA sets up tribute page for Lord Kerslake 04/07/2023 The Local Government Association as set up a tribute page following the death of Lord Bob Kerslake.
Gove: Trust councils on waste collection 09/06/2023 Communities secretary Michael Gove has said the Government should not ‘dictate’ to councils on waste collections.
LGA: Social care must remain 'rooted’ at local level 08/06/2023 Social care must remain 'rooted in local government' council leaders have warned, to make sure it is democratic and accountable.
Councils better placed to deliver welfare than DWP, leaders claim 26/04/2023 Sector representatives were brought before the Work and Pensions Committee to hear their experiences of delivering the Household Support Fund.
‘Significant concerns' over regional care cooperatives 23/03/2023 Regional care cooperatives (RCCs) will not resolve the issues around child care placements, councils have said.
LGA moves to tackle workforce crisis 10/03/2023 The association’s executive advisory board heard that all of the LGA’s policy boards had highlighted ‘significant workforce capacity challenges’.
Minister mounts Oflog defence 10/03/2023 Local government minister Lee Rowley told councillors to ‘judge us by what we do, not what you worry about’ as he defended the planned Oflog.
Number of homeless Ukrainian refugees mounts 20/02/2023 Politicians have made a cross-party call to extend support for Ukrainian refugees to prevent them becoming homeless.
Councillors split on solution to workforce crisis 26/01/2023 The LGA’s executive advisory board considered a survey that found more than nine in 10 councils were experiencing staff recruitment difficulties.
Local net zero push held back by Government, review finds 13/01/2023 Local authorities’ efforts to achieve net zero are being held back, according to a Government-commissioned review.
Top awards for sector in King Charles III's Honours list 03/01/2023 Local government figures from across the sector have been recognised in the first New Year's Honours list under King Charles III.
CQC delays new care inspections 21/12/2022 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced it is to delay the introduction of its new adult care assessments.
District concern in wake of finance settlement 20/12/2022 Concern over funding for districts has been voiced following the announcement of the provisional local government finance settlement for 2023-24.
Transformation stalled at unitary's planning service, peers find 19/12/2022 ‘Widespread dissatisfaction’ with enforcement has been uncovered by a peer review of a new unitary council’s planning service.
Deaths caused by alcohol reach 'record high' 09/12/2022 Council leaders have called for a 'concerted approach' to tackling alcohol dependency after figures showed the number of deaths caused by alcohol has hit a record high.