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“Councils need sustainable, long-term funding to better protect the services that people rely on, as they face rising demand and increasing costs to deliver them."

The Local Government Association (LGA) is urging the Chancellor to use the Spring Statement to further stabilise council finances, warning that growing cost and demand pressures continue to push councils to the financial brink. It is good that councils have received some funding growth in recent years. A much-needed multi-year funding settlement has improved councils’ financial certainty and will help many councils to begin to rebuild after over a decade of underfunding. Local government is key to creating thriving communities and places and the achievement of national objectives. From

Devolving the visitor levy to local areas will enable significant investment in the visitor economy, boosting local attractions and tourism businesses, say councils.

“The temporary accommodation subsidy gap is a problem that is getting worse each year but is fixable" said Cllr Tom Hunt, Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee. "This would have a huge boost to council finances, money which could go towards preventing homelessness and building the homes that our communities desperately need."

Baroness Casey is right to recognise the need to elevate the true value and purpose of care and support nationally. It is encouraging that she has strongly signalled for this to be a core foundation behind her proposals for the sector’s future.

Analysis of the latest fly-tipping data shows that the average court fine for fly-tipping is £539, which is £87 lower than the £626 average fixed penalty notice (FPN) councils can issue for the same offence.

“It is positive the Government set out plans for much-needed reform of the SEND system, which is vital if we are to ensure children and young people with SEND get the support they need to flourish at school.

“We need to pull every lever to address youth employment and it is good to see further investment, alongside an expansion of the Jobs Guarantee up to those aged 24."

“The free hours childcare scheme has been crucial in helping parents afford childcare.

The overall financial picture for social housing is showing signs of improvement, but more support for councils is sorely needed to help alleviate pressure on their Housing Revenue Accounts (HRA), a Local Government Association survey reveals.