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'Councils continue to work all day and night to support communities through the COVID-19 crisis but have faced extra cost pressures and significant income losses as a result, as this survey highlights.'

"Everybody has to play their part in helping to get this pandemic under control. It is good that the NHS Test and Trace system is reaching the majority of those who tested positive and who are passing on details of their close contacts, but it is still concerning that nearly 20 per cent of positive cases cannot be found."

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, responds to the Summer Economic Update announced by the Chancellor.

“Council public health teams work hard to help reduce smoking rates in their areas, alongside local charities and community groups, and it is testament to their efforts that smoking rates continue to fall."

"Staff working in care homes and those providing care in people’s own homes have done an incredible job, in extremely challenging circumstances, to protect those they care for throughout this crisis."

"Councils share the Commissioner’s concerns about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on vulnerable teenagers."

“It is great that the Government has recognised the importance of culture to the social fabric of our nation by announcing this funding which will be a lifeline to many theatres, galleries and museums which have been severely impacted by coronavirus."

“We are pleased that the Government recognises the important role that tourism plays in boosting the UK economy and that it has provided this much needed funding."

"Nearly a third of all deaths in care homes involved coronavirus and we need to do all we can to keep drastically reducing this. The Government’s announcement today of regular testing of care home residents and staff will help with preventing the spread of infection, but we must remain vigilant."

“The most important thing is that the public and those working on the frontline get a complete picture of the impact this virus has had in our neighbourhoods and in our communities."