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Responding to a National Audit Office interim report on the Government’s approach to test and trace in England, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:  “From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent launch of NHS Test and Trace, we have consistently called for councils and their directors of public health to be able to use their considerable expertise and unparalleled experience to play their full part in the national effort to beat this virus.  “Environmental health, emergency planners, trading standards and public

The UK leaving the European Union will mean significant new additional responsibilities for local councils to check goods entering the country.

“Councils want to build on this success to ensure local communities benefit more from national schemes."

“To ensure employment and skills programmes are as effective as they can be in future, councils and combined authorities should be placed at the heart of delivering a coherent and local offer building on their proven track record of delivering similar services and support.”

“With a 26 per cent fall in apprenticeship starts between 2015/16 and 2017/18 and many employers still struggling to spend their funds nearly two years after the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, further reform to enable greater local flexibility is desperately needed."

Cllr Claire Kober, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Resources Board, responded to the National Audit Office report on 100 per cent retention of business rates

“Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges we face and this report is another stark reminder of the urgent need for radical action to combat this."

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, responds to a National Audit Office report on ensuring food safety and standards.

“We would also like to see the Government establish a national framework where it works with councils and businesses to tackle the climate emergency, setting out clear roles and a commitment to co-operation from all public sector bodies.”

"The focus on both short-term funding crises and reducing pressure on acute and inpatient services, rather than prevention and wider community support work by councils, is hindering the ability to transform health and social care services. "