PWLB hike: A rise too far?
What impact will the increase to the Public Works Loan Board rate have on councils’ housing and other capital schemes? Neil Merrick investigates.
Council broke its own blue badge assessment policy, Ombudsman finds
24/10/2019 Sheffield CC has agreed to review its process for dealing with blue badge applications after an investigation revealed it was breaking its own policy. |
Special educational needs reforms ‘poorly implemented’, MPs say
23/10/2019 A generation of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities is being failed by the Government’s SEND reforms, MPs warn. |
DWP admits overestimating number of disabled people due benefit refunds
21/10/2019 The Department for Work and Pensions has overestimated the number of sick and disabled people due benefit refunds. |
Local councils aim to make communities 'seizure savvy'
02/10/2019 A new partnership to help local councils raise awareness of how to help someone having an epileptic fit has been launched. |
How to comply with the UK’s new public sector web accessibility laws
17/09/2019 Ross Linnett, founder and CEO of Recite Me, looks at the UK’s new public sector web accessibility laws. |
Cash-strapped councils struggling to support SEND children, auditors warn
11/09/2019 Auditors have warned that councils are coming under growing financial pressure as the demand for supporting school pupils with the greatest needs rises. |
Blue Badges offered to people with non-visible disabilities
30/08/2019 The Government has today implemented the expanded Blue Badge scheme which will now include people who have non-visible disabilities. |
DWP say ‘record’ levels of disabled peopled helped into work
08/08/2019 Over 36,000 disabled people were supported into work last year, a figure the Department for Work and Pensions says is a ‘record’. |
Ombudsman reveals ‘gaps’ in the SEN redress system
25/07/2019 An investigation has revealed gaps in the Special Educational Needs redress system which prevent it from being transparent and accountable to parents. |
Charity calls for ‘strong leadership’ to integrate support for disabled children
24/07/2019 Strong leadership is needed to streamline and integrate support for disabled children, according to campaigners. |
Kent CC warns of ‘dire’ £14m SEND deficit
11/07/2019 Kent County Council has warned it is facing a 'dire' £14m financial deficit for the cost of special needs education provision. |
Deaf children face ‘radio aid lottery’
11/07/2019 Local authority leaders have hit back against a claim that councils are failing to provide aids to deaf children. |
Council criticised for handling of disabled woman’s case
21/06/2019 Somerset County Council has been told to complete its assessment of a disabled woman’s needs after failing to comply with an earlier ruling by the LGO. |
Regional inequality and later life
18/06/2019 Amy McSweeney explains why action is needed to tackle the regional economic imbalance. |
Calls to make cycling more inclusive for women, older and disabled people
06/06/2019 Women, older and disabled people are neglected in provision of resources to support cycling, according to a report. |
‘Postcode lottery’ for accessible homes
05/06/2019 Less than a quarter of homes built outside London by 2030 will be suitable for older and disabled people, housing experts have warned. |
Campaigners deliver petition to tackle crisis in special needs education
31/05/2019 Teachers and campaigners have launched a call for more funds to pay for special needs education. |
Council criticised for ‘serious delays’ in completing SEND plans
23/05/2019 Hackney Council has been criticised by the ombudsman over serious delays when completing plans for children with Special Educational Needs. |
Hancock pledges review of every patient in long term segregation or seclusion
21/05/2019 Health secretary Matt Hancock today ordered a review of the care that patients in long term segregation or seclusion receive. |
Children with autism ‘let down’ by system, report finds
20/05/2019 The system of support for young people with learning difficulties and autism is letting down some of the most vulnerable children in the country, according to the Children’s Commissioner. |
How councils can improve support for independent living
14/05/2019 Paul Smith outlines his five top tips on how councils can improve the outcomes for disabled people living in their area. |
Accessible toilets to be compulsory in new public buildings
13/05/2019 The Government has published proposals to make toilets that are accessible for disabled people compulsory in all new or refurbished public buildings. |
Court rules voting provision for blind people is 'unlawful'
07/05/2019 The way in which blind or partially sighted people are able to vote has been declared ‘unlawful’ in a successful legal challenge. |
Virtual reality used to help people with learning disabilities vote
09/04/2019 The Northern Ireland branch of Mencap is using virtual reality to support people with learning disabilities to vote in the upcoming local elections. |
Funding for SEND education ‘nowhere near enough’, think tank says
04/04/2019 Cuts to local government have resulted in funding for children with special educational needs dropping by 17% per pupil, a new study has revealed. |
DWP failing to tackle unemployment among disabled people, auditors find
28/03/2019 The Department for Work and Pensions has limited evidence of what is effective when it comes to supporting disabled people to work, auditors have warned. |
Around 3,500 school places to be created for pupils with complex needs
11/03/2019 Thousands of new school places are being created for children with special needs or those facing additional challenges in mainstream education, Whitehall says |
Whitehall cuts result in ‘lost generation’ of deaf children
13/02/2019 England’s deaf children are falling a whole grade behind their hearing class mates despite deafness not being a learning disability, a charity has warned. |
Disabled Universal Credit claimants take DWP to court for ‘irrational’ decision
23/01/2019 Two households are challenging the Department for Work and Pensions in court after being forced to move to UC and losing hundreds of pounds as a result. |
Council chiefs warn of scams targeting the vulnerable
16/01/2019 Local authority leaders have called on carers and families to be aware of fraud targeting older and more vulnerable people. |
Disability employment gap ‘narrows’
15/01/2019 Disabled people have accounted for about a third of the increase in employment in the UK over the last decade, think tank finds. |
Universal Credit potentially ‘disastrous’ for disabled people
19/12/2018 MPs have warned of potentially 'disastrous' consequences for disabled people if the Universal Credit benefits system goes ahead as currently planned. |
Council chiefs call for ‘emergency cash’ to support children with special needs
17/12/2018 The Government has announced it will provide £350m to support children with complex needs and disabilities. |
Review calls for overhaul of home adaptation scheme
11/12/2018 The delivery of home adaptations designed to help disabled and older people varies from area to area and often lacks any integrated decision making, according to an independent Government review. |
Councils welcome fund to help disabled people become councillors
03/12/2018 The Local Government Association (LGA) has welcomed a new fund encouraging for people with disabilities to put themselves forward for public office. |
Bucking the national trend
26/11/2018 Mark Whitehead finds out how opportunities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Lincolnshire are about to enjoy a huge boost. |
Funding to help those with health conditions return to work
22/11/2018 The Government has announced £4m of funding for technology to help people with disabilities return to work. |
Councils spending £75m more on transporting SEND pupils to school
20/11/2018 County councils spent £323.3m on transporting young people to school last year, figures have revealed. |
Cost of caring for adults with learning disabilities could increase by almost £2bn by 2025
19/11/2018 A rise in the number of adults with severe learning disabilities will cost councils an extra £2bn by 2025, figures released today have revealed. |
Council chiefs warn of ‘detrimental impact’ of nursery cuts
24/10/2018 Local authority leaders have warned that Government plans to cut funding are placing maintained nurseries and support for children with special needs at risk. |
Council faces legal action over £20m cuts to SEND budget
03/10/2018 Surrey County Council is facing a legal battle over plans to cut its special educational needs and disabilities budget by more than £20m. |
Council apologises for ‘failing’ disabled boy’s family
30/08/2018 Doncaster council has admitted to ‘failing’ the family of a disabled boy after they waited three years for the special adaptations their home required. |
Court rules £5m of special needs cuts ‘illegal’
06/08/2018 Bristol City Council has said it is ‘disappointed’ by a court ruling that found the authority had acted illegally by cutting £5m from the budget for children with special needs. |
Councils urged to provide free education transport for young people with disabilities
06/08/2018 Councils across England should ensure their education transport policies properly support young adults with disabilities, ombudsman warns. |
Blue Badge extended to cover 'hidden disabilities'
30/07/2018 A decision to extend the Blue Badge parking scheme to people with mental conditions has been hailed as a 'lifeline'. |
£4m fund launched to help people with disabilities in work
17/07/2018 The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a new ‘challenge fund’ to help more people with mental health or musculoskeletal conditions to stay in work. |
Improving the delivery of disabled facilities grants
21/06/2018 Roy McNally explains how home improvement agencies can help local government improve the delivery of disabled facilities grants. |
Councils warn about ‘dangerously’ inadequate funding for SEND education
19/06/2018 The School Cuts Coalition and 39 local authorities have written to the Government to warn they do not have enough funding to meet their statutory obligations for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). |
Ombudsman criticises council for cutting disabled man’s support
31/05/2018 A London council has been fined nearly £3,000 for cutting support for a disabled man. |
‘Cash injection’ not enough for special needs education, warn council chiefs
29/05/2018 Council leaders have welcomed the announcement of extra money for special needs education — but warn that a 'one-off cash injection' is not enough. |
Welsh disability services need £365m to be ‘sustainable’, auditors say
24/05/2018 Welsh councils will need to increase investment in accommodation for people with learning disabilities by over £350m over the next two decades, auditors say. |
Support for deaf children at ‘breaking point’ due to council cuts, charity warns
14/05/2018 More than a third of English councils are planning to cut the education support they give to deaf children this year, new research has revealed today. |
Disabled people 'trapped' in unsuitable homes
11/05/2018 The equality commission has called for a national strategy to ensure disabled people have access to suitable housing as survey reveals only 7% of England’s housing stock meets minimum standards. |
Sleep-in care crisis threatens 70% of the care sector
08/05/2018 The viability of nearly 70% of the care sector is at risk from the unresolved sleep-in care crisis, a new survey has revealed. |
Londoners with disabilities need more support into work, think tank says
02/05/2018 Sadiq Khan should create a taskforce dedicated to supporting disabled people into work, think tank says. |
£135m employment support programme launched
01/03/2018 London boroughs today launched a new multi-million pound employment programme which will provide tailored support to help people find work. |
Housing adaptation system ‘complicated, reactive and unfair’
22/02/2018 The housing adaptation system in Wales is ‘complicated, reactive and unfair’ and does not deliver for those who need it, auditors warn. |
Blue Badge thefts quadruple in five years
15/02/2018 The theft of Blue Badges has quadrupled in the last five years, council chiefs warn. |
MPs warn of 'pervasive lack of trust' in way disability benefits are assessed
14/02/2018 Failures in the way major disability benefits are being assessed have led to a loss of trust in the system, MPs have warned today. |
Carers for disabled adults have ‘no plans for future’, campaigners warn
05/02/2018 Two thirds of councils are ‘unaware’ of how many disabled adults in their area are currently being cared for by family and friends at home, a disabilities campaign group has revealed. |
Online council information for drivers with disabilities ‘poor’, Socitm finds
02/02/2018 Council parking services do a ‘poor job’ when it comes to the provision of online information for drivers with disabilities, ICT body warns. |
Blue badge reform to improve travel for people with ‘hidden disabilities’
22/01/2018 A proposed reform to the blue badge criteria could mean people with ‘hidden disabilities’ will find it easier to travel. |
Council support for deaf children in ‘disarray’
08/01/2018 The local authority system of support for deaf children is in ‘complete disarray’ as the number of specialist teachers is cut, a deafness charity warns. |
Brexit will undermine support for disabled people, charity warns
05/12/2017 Leaving the EU will weaken support for disabled people unless the Government shores up the voluntary social care sector, according to a new report. |
Whitehall announces £45m to support SEND children
01/12/2017 The Government has announced a package of support worth nearly £45m to provide additional help for children with special educational needs and disabilities. |
Commissioners highlight problems for voters with disabilities
10/11/2017 Some people were unable to vote in the last general election because of their disabilities, according to the Electoral Commission. |
Psychiatric wards ‘last resort’ for disabled people with challenging behaviour
09/10/2017 Local authorities should provide specialist community care for people with learning disabilities whose behaviour can be challenging in order to avoid admissions to psychiatric wards or residential homes, new guidance says. |
Majority of procurement deals ignore accessibility requirements
15/09/2017 More than half of outsourcing deals by councils fail to take the needs of people with disabiilities into account, according to a business pressure group. |
Half of council transport policies include unlawful statements, charity finds
11/09/2017 The Government has promised a review of guidance after an investigation revealed more than half (51%) of local school transport policies in England include unlawful statements. |
Disabilities in a time of austerity
06/09/2017 Are councils really complicit in the humans rights violation of disabled people? William Eichler investigates. |
Whitehall plans cause 85% drop in homes for most vulnerable
25/08/2017 Government plans have caused an 85% drop in new homes for the most vulnerable, new survey reveals. |
Councils urged to make public spaces more accessible
22/08/2017 Councils should ensure bins and other street furniture does not stop people with mobility issues from using public spaces, under guidance published yesterday. |
Councils complicit in ‘human rights violations’, disability organisations say
21/08/2017 Deaf and disability organisations have accused the Government and local authorities of human rights violations due to policies which prevent disabled people living independent lives. |
Councils told to review homelessness procedures after poor treatment of disabled woman
17/08/2017 Councils have been urged to ensure homelessness procedures are ‘fit for purpose’ after Ombudsman found fault with a council’s treatment of a disabled woman. |
New DFG portal offers speedy solution to home adaptations
07/07/2017 The time it takes to carry out home improvements for vulnerable people is set to be cut by a new online application. |
How councils can best use Disabled Facilities Grants
07/07/2017 What can councils do to support disabled people in their own homes? The director of Foundations, Paul Smith, explains. |
Number of people with care needs set to expand by 25%, study reveals
24/05/2017 The number of older people with care needs will expand by 25% over the next eight years, a new study reveals. |
Social care providers over-medicating people with autism, campaigners warn
08/05/2017 Social care providers are being urged to join a campaign against the over-medication of people with learning disabilities or autism. |
Whitehall must be ‘more ambitious’ in improving access in public places
25/04/2017 The Government must act to ‘lead the charge’ in improving access and inclusion in the built environment, MPs say. |
Lack of funds puts education for children with special needs at risk
30/03/2017 Children with special needs are at risk of being turned away by mainstream schools because of a lack of funding, councils have warned. |
Gov announces millions in extra funding for SEND provision
06/03/2017 The Government announced at the weekend the release of £215m in funding to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). |
Number of adults with a learning disability needing social care will rise by 3% a year, warn councils
02/03/2017 Council leaders have warned the number of adults with a learning disability needing social care is set to rise by 3% a year, putting further pressures on local authority finances. |
‘Dramatic’ increase of children with complex needs
22/02/2017 The number of disabled children with complex needs has ‘dramatically’ increased, report reveals, but their families find it difficult to access local authority support. |
London and Manchester to get £100m to help the disabled into employment
30/01/2017 The Government today announced it is devolving new powers to London and Greater Manchester to help thousands more disabled people get into work. |
Disabled children with challenging behaviour being 'hidden' from society
26/01/2017 A ‘fragmented' care system is depriving disabled children with complex needs of the right to an education and family life, a damning review has said today. |
Families with disabled children ‘left in dark’ about childcare
26/01/2017 Families with disabled children are frequently ‘left in the dark’ when it comes to childcare due to a lack of information from local authorities, charity finds. |
‘Devastating’ lack of social care causing problems for the disabled
09/12/2016 A 'devastating' lack of social care is causing mental and physical health problems for people with disabilities, a leading charity has warned. |
Families win landmark court ruling over ‘discriminatory’ bedroom tax
10/11/2016 Two families have successfully argued that cuts to their housing benefit due to the government’s controversial bedroom tax is unfair. |
£25m fund launched to help people with learning disabilities
15/09/2016 The Government has launched a £25m housing and technology fund to help people with learning disabilities live independently. |
This issue of Local Government News explores how councils can tackle modern slavery and trafficking in their supply chains, finds out more about Cambridge's first cohousing scheme and the launch of a new project to build a shared service pattern library for local government.
This issue also contains a special focus on children's services and how councils are protecting children following local safeguarding children boards being abolished.
