Briefings and responses

Finding loving homes for children is one of the most important jobs that councils do.

The LGA has responded to the call for evidence in the Government’s Review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures. The LGA’s response calls for maximum FOBT stakes to be reduced to £2, and for councils to have greater powers to limit the numbers of gambling premises in their areas.

Every resident has the right to a good quality of life, and to aspire to improve their circumstances regardless of their background or where they live.

The UK’s exit from the European Union (EU) is going to have a significant impact on local government, creating challenges that will need to be addressed, but also opportunities to do things differently.

Key summary points and briefings for local government on the Policing and Crime Bill.

The briefing covers the consultation on the local government finance settlement for 2017/18 and indicative settlements for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

On the 29 September 2016 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), published a consultation on how the legislation will be implemented in the UK. There are some proposals in the consultation which go far beyond the basic legislation and therefore should be seen as discretionary for the UK.

Councils in England currently look after 69,500 children who are unable to live with their birth parents, a figure that has increased by just under 2,500 over the past three years.

Since March (2016), the establishment of 44 Sustainability and Transformation Plans has continued apace, with each required to draft proposals to transform local health and care services.

Faced with increasing demand, reducing budgets, falling social housing and wide-ranging welfare reforms, it is clear that that there is no silver bullet and councils cannot tackle this challenge alone.