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Councils are pleased to see the significant investment behind the measures in this Plan, which will help cut bills and make homes warmer, safer and healthier.

“Councils want every child to have the best start in life, but national prioritisation and investment in early years public health and the health visiting workforce have not kept pace with need."

“This investment is positive for communities across the country, which will help cultural institutions stabilise, address urgent maintenance needs, and begin to plan for growth rather than simply survival.

Research by the LGA shows that councils are actively working to improve digital inclusion, but progress is being hampered by funding challenges and a lack of national coordination.

"It’s never too late to catch up on vaccines. Councils will continue to play a central role in providing trusted information to families and helping tackle misinformation so that more children are protected from preventable illness."

New research has found that integrated services are key to meeting the national target of achieving 75 per cent of five-year-olds with a good level of development (GLD) by 2028, but that workforce shortages and limited access to high-quality early years education are restricting progress.

“This is an important step in the right direction, as more must be done to ensure that all people can live in a safe, warm, and decent standard home."

"Councils are ready to support the ambitions of the plan by helping to ensure that new approaches – innovation, technology, and digital tools – reach every community, particularly those with the poorest outcomes."

Eight in 10 councils warn they will become insolvent over mounting deficits related to the cost of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, a new survey by the Local Government Association suggests.  

The LGA is calling on government to provide a significant increase in resources in the imminent final Local Government Finance Settlement.