The LGA's media office provides the national voice of local government in England and Wales on the major issues of the day for national, regional and local press.
A plan to promote, protect, support and develop careers in social care, alongside better pay, terms and conditions, would both strengthen the wellbeing and recognition of those who work in this essential vocation, as well as benefit the people who draw on care.
The adult social care sector remains in a precarious position and despite councils’ best efforts to make progress on the issue, more than 400,000 people are still facing a wait to be assessed, for their care package to commence, or for a review of their care plan.
The legislative agenda set out today also includes some encouraging signs that the new Government recognises that, with the right powers and flexibilities, councils are critical to help it deliver its missions.
Only councils can lead targeted local climate action in our villages, towns and cities that hit net zero targets for half the costs and generate three times the returns.
This is a hugely important report by Baroness Hallett and, on behalf of local government, we thank her for her work to help the nation reflect on and understand what happened.
“The most effective way to support low-income households is through an adequately resourced national safety net and sustainable long-term funding for vital council services."
“This Spending Review will be critical to the future of our local services with councils facing a funding gap of more than £6 billion over the next two years.
Cllr Peter Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board, said: “Public sector workers do an incredible job to keep local services running day-in, day-out. However, while it is good that the Government will fund higher pay awards for parts of the public sector, the announcement did not provide any additional funding for pay in local government. Pay awards in local government are funded through council budgets. Those budgets continue to face severe and unprecedented challenges and therefore the pay offer in local government needs to be affordable to the sector.
“The LGA will continue
The roll-out of five-year local housing deals by 2025 would lead to 200,000 additional social homes being built over the span of 30 years, a new report by the Local Government Association says today.