Local Elections: What voters really want from their councils
With voters heading to the polls tomorrow, a recent YouGov survey reveals what local issues matter most — and the answers are not always what you might expect.
Oxfordshire County Council launches 10-year learning disabilities plan
29/04/2026 A 10-year plan to support adults with learning disabilities has been launched by Oxfordshire County Council and its partners. |
Government urges councils to work with ICBs on neighbourhood health centres
27/04/2026 Housing secretary Steve Reed has urged councils to work with ICBs on creating neighbourhood health centres. |
Council raises concerns over plans to move children's A&E
22/04/2026 West Lancashire BC has vowed to challenge a decision to move the children’s Accident and Emergency department at Ormskirk Hospital to Southport Hospital. |
Improvement notice lifted on Oxfordshire's SEND services
20/04/2026 An improvement notice for SEND services in Oxfordshire issued following an inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in 2023 has been lifted. |
Unison proposes adult social care pension scheme
08/04/2026 A letter proposing a pension scheme for adult social care workers funded by employers and employees has been sent by Unison to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting. |
Largest ICB in England established in London
01/04/2026 The largest ICB in England responsible for a £12bn NHS annual investment has been established in London. |
Health devolution deals to give great powers to mayors
26/03/2026 Two new health devolution deals are to give greater powers to mayors in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. |
ICB savings risk shifting care costs to councils, think-tank warns
19/03/2026 An ICB’s £277m savings programme for 2025/26 risks shifting care costs to local councils and residents, the Nuffield Trust has warned. |
Visiting rights in hospitals and care homes to be strengthened
18/03/2026 Visiting rights in hospitals, care homes and hospices are to be strengthened under Government legislation. |
BREAKING NEWS: Streeting agrees to 'simple asks' from Baroness Casey
05/03/2026 Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting has agreed to ‘simple asks’ on dementia, social care and motor neurone disease (MND) from Baroness Louise Casey. |
BREAKING NEWS: Baroness Casey makes five 'simple asks' of Streeting
05/03/2026 Baroness Louise Casey has revealed she has written to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting with five ‘simple' social care asks. |
'Inconsistent' and 'variable': mixed review for SEND services
03/03/2026 SEND services in Sunderland have been described as ‘inconsistent’ and ‘variable’ by regulators. |
'Social care reform caught in political catch-22,' report finds
02/03/2026 Social care reform is caught in a political catch-22 with Government frightened to tackle the issue, according to a new report. |
Scottish IJBs at 'critical point', commission finds
26/02/2026 IJBs have reached a critical point in Scotland with a significant risk they will become financially unsustainable, according to Accounts Commission. |
Reform UK council denies private hospital plans
19/02/2026 Derbyshire County Council has denied it planned to set up a private hospital at its Matlock headquarters. |
Health and social care integration plans receive £7.1m boost
18/02/2026 Plans for health and social care integration in Powys, mid-Wales have received a £7.1m funding boost. |
Council's SEND services improving but still inconsistent
09/02/2026 Improvements have been made to SEND services delivered by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council but services remain inconsistent, new report says. |
Council and ICB award preventative services contract
06/02/2026 A Preventative Services Contract for Adults has been awarded to three organisations by Shropshire Council and Shropshire ICB. |
Scotland leads on damp and mould regulations
23/01/2026 Regulations to protect tenants from damp and mould have been announced in Scotland. |
MPs call for overhaul of early years' healthcare support
22/01/2026 MPs have called for an overall of early years’ healthcare support, including more health visitors and Family Hubs, and a new vaccines strategy. |
