News

“Unpaid carers provide vital support for thousands of people every day, which councils fully recognise and want to help in any way they can."

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, responds to the final report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill.

Councils face an £8 billion funding gap by 2025, while an additional £1.6 billion is required in high needs funding by 2021. It is essential that Government uses the forthcoming Spending Review to address these shortfalls, and to ensure schools are adequately funded to support all children to achieve their ambitions.”

“While it is good that councils will receive initial one-year funding to deliver the scheme at the same level, this needs to be followed through with long-term funding in the Spending Review."

To achieve true parity of care between mental and physical health, we need a root and branch overhaul of mental health services, which focuses on prevention and early intervention, particularly for children and young people.

Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Fire Services Management Committee, responds to the second tranche of a national report on fire and rescue services by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Every suicide that takes place is a tragedy and it’s everybody’s business to work together to tackle this tragic loss of life and support all of those affected by it.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to a report by the Commons Health and Social Care Committee on legislative proposals for the NHS Long-Term Plan.

LGA Housing spokesman, Cllr Martin Tett, responds to a report by the Public Accounts Committee warning that the Government’s housebuilding target is in “jeopardy”.

“This important annual report is further compelling evidence of the irrefutable crisis in adult social care funding which cannot be ignored and rightly highlights the efforts of councils in continuing to do all they can to help people live the lives they want to lead."