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According to Home Office data, there were around 90,000 decisions on older cases forecasted to be made before the end of December 2023. The pace and scale of the Home Office’s decision-making means that large numbers of people are already and will continue to turn to councils for support.

“It is positive to see that places which had been overlooked in previous rounds have been included on the strength of their previous bids and that culture is given the extra recognition it deserves in strengthening pride-in-place."

“Levelling up has great potential to transform people’s lives and livelihoods, with councils best placed to make this happen."

Responding to the immigration minister Robert Jenrick’s announcement that fifty hotels will be closed to asylum seekers by January, Cllr Shaun Davies, Chair of the Local Government Association said: “Councils have a proud history of supporting humanitarian efforts and continue to work hard to protect and support refugees and help deliver a wide range of government asylum and resettlement schemes. Councils share the government’s ambitions to end hotel use for asylum seekers. “Hotel closures have a direct impact on councils and local government wants to play an active role in working with

We have raised concerns about councils being asked to commit to numbers of arrivals or propose a cap. It might be difficult for councils to predict potential arrival numbers across both asylum and resettlement and therefore their capacity to support new arrivals and the additional housing needed.

The LGA responds to the National Audit Office’s report on Homes for Ukraine.

“Being able to adapt to multiple challenges, from changes in people’s shopping habits to the rising cost of living, is common to councils across the country and we want to work with government to make this plan a success."

“Cities have a long and proud history of being at the forefront of economic growth and development in our country and every area of the UK should have a globally competitive city."

“Council election teams are often small and so were reliant on help from areas without local elections to administer these changes last May. It is clear that as we approach future elections that this will not be sustainable, particularly in a general election."

The LGA has begun work to develop firm proposals for a Local Government White Paper to be published before the next election.