Briefings and responses

Digital access and skills are essential to enabling people to fully participate in an increasingly digital society. Tackling the digital divide will be crucial to addressing social and economic inequalities and levelling up every community.

Councils are committed to supporting the growth of the creative industries and have a key role to play in providing the local conditions for new creative clusters to flourish.

The 2021 Combined Budget and Spending Review outlines the Government’s spending plans by setting budgets for each central government department.

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill includes a range of provisions to improve the welfare of kept animals, including farm animals, companion animals, and kept wild animals. We support the objective of increasing animal welfare standards and eradicating cruel practices both domestically and internationally.

Councils are a unique and powerful leadership and delivery partner in achieving Net Zero and adapting to climate change.

COVID-19 has brought into sharp relief the challenges facing adult social care, and in many cases exacerbated them, but it has also powerfully underlined the essential value of social care in supporting people to live the life they want to lead.

The LGA welcomes the development of a new national resilience strategy and review of the Civil Contingencies Act (the Act).

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted that broadband is essential infrastructure. Access to fast and reliable broadband connectivity is vital to help communities stay connected, drive inclusive recovery and create quality jobs.

The White Paper will build on actions the Government is already taking to level up across the UK and will set out “bold new policy interventions to improve livelihoods and opportunities in all parts of the UK.” 

The LGA welcomes this Bill which would make it mandatory for licensing authorities to access vital background information about drivers seeking a licence in their areas. This will support the work of councils to ensure anyone using a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) is kept safe.