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“The report highlights some important learning for councils and government to take forward to improve fairness and accuracy within the benefits system."

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, responds to the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.

The additional one-off social care funding announced today is a temporary measure and needs to be compared against an annual social care funding gap of £2.3 billion by 2020.

“Local government is one of the most trusted parts of the public sector with polling consistently showing high satisfaction rates. Councils are always striving to do the best for their residents and deliver first class services.”

“We are pleased to see the recognition of the great results from councils who have adapted their services based on recommendations, and it is positive that in 99.3 per cent of cases councils are implementing recommendations made."

"The swift decision is very helpful. Councils will now continue to put all of their efforts into supporting their local communities as the nation tackles COVID-19.”

“Councils need a fair and sustainable funding settlement in the upcoming Spending Review to ensure they can continue to fund these essential community services and deliver against the Government’s plans for Levelling Up.”

“We have been pressing the Government to set a firm timetable by which timely audits will be restored, so it is good that these proposals have been published."

“The Government should ensure that local outbreak management plans can be stepped up if required if there is a re-emergence of the virus and that all partners are sufficiently resourced to make this happen."

“It is positive to see that places which had been overlooked in previous rounds have been included on the strength of their previous bids and that culture is given the extra recognition it deserves in strengthening pride-in-place."