News

“People with substance misuse issues need effective support and treatment, which councils are committed to providing.

Public satisfaction with local waste services remains very high, which councils have worked hard to achieve. What works in urban centres is different to rural communities.

It is vital the forthcoming provisional Local Government Finance Settlement also now fully funds the changes to employer national insurance contributions included in the Budget.

Properly funded preventative services would mean councils, working closely with partners and people drawing on support, can maximize the impact of their resources and address community needs. This will also drive down demand for more expensive acute health and social care support.

Councils are facing unprecedented financial challenges, with the increases to employer National Insurance Contributions likely to add significant costs for councils and the wider sector.

“We look forward to further details from the Government as they step towards a more localised way of delivering employment and skills services and working with them to plan how these changes will work in practice.”

A joint survey by the LGA with charity Resolve has found that instances of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) are taking longer to investigate due to current information sharing practices, which in many cases are poor and inconsistent.

The Government needs to address the funding gap in public health, ensuring that councils are properly resourced to deliver preventative services and improve health outcomes for all communities.

Investment in parks and green spaces is not only a cost-effective way to promote and improve health and wellbeing, but is a priority for all councils.

Without immediate investment and a long-term funding strategy, the situation will only deteriorate. Ensuring adequate resources to support working-age adults equally must be a government priority.