News

Andrea Newman, currently Strategic Director of Communications and Engagement at Surrey County Council, has been appointed as our Director of Communications and Engagement, joining the extended Strategic Leadership Team.

“We are pleased to see new funding for supervised toothbrushing, which is an evidence-based and cost-effective intervention proven to improve children’s oral health.

“This Bill has included some of the LGA’s long term asks, such as making it easier for councils to purchase vacant land for house building, localising planning fees, and increasing planning capacity...However, there remains concerns around how it will ensure that councils – who know their areas best and what they need – remain at the heart of the planning process."

"Our collective weight, unity and voice remain our most powerful tool in lobbying for positive change for our residents and showcasing good practice, and in leading the system for sector-led improvement."

New research by the LGA has found that councils face impossible choices between maintaining and repairing existing housing stock and building new homes.

“Councils are committed to keeping tenants and residents safe, and are keen to work with Government to drive the pace of remediation...However, as this report shows, it is still a major issue that requires significant funding and resource to address properly.

“The additional £500 million will help start to address the previously ever-growing backlog of local road repairs, which now stands at nearly £17 billion and could take more than a decade to fix."

“This additional funding for affordable housing will provide much needed certainty and stability to councils and other housing providers."

“Long-term empty homes are a major issue for councils...This toolkit will give Empty Homes Officers the practical tools they need to bring more properties back into use and support councils in tackling the issue more effectively."

“Every child and family deserve quality, stable accommodation, and councils strive to make sure that the necessary support is available. However, it is no secret that the scale of the challenge facing local government on temporary accommodation and homelessness – and the financial pressures – are immense."