Briefings and responses

It is widely recognised that local audit is in crisis, and this is acknowledged in the consultation and the strategy. The LGA has been pressing for a long time for a timetable to be set by which timely audits will be restored. There is an urgent need to restore confidence in the local audit arrangements, restore timely audits permanently, and improve financial reporting. Taxpayers and residents should demand and be entitled to full confidence in local authority accounts. But it is also clear that the causes of the crisis are complex – there is no easy explanation nor an easy solution.

Extra money for councils next year, including compensation for employer National Insurance contributions increases, will help meet some of the cost and demand pressures they face but still falls short of what is desperately needed to cover them all.

The introduction of the Employment Rights Bill is a key area of interest for councils. With 1.4 million employees in the sector and more than half a million teachers, firefighters and other local authority related personnel, local government can be said to be the largest, most varied, workforce in the country.

This paper is the first in a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further policy development in collaboration with the wider sector.The paper invited views on further action the government could take through the planning system to support the development of brownfield land in urban areas.

Local government is vital for the UK's AI strategy success, but faces challenges in digital transformation and AI adoption.

The LGA welcomes increased funding in the short-term, but we also urge the Government to set out a long-term sustainable funding plan for public health as part of the Spending Review.

Debate on the importance and programme of work to ensure the Creative Industries contribute to fulfilling the Government’s growth mission, with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country, House of Lords

There is a clear and widely accepted need to simplify local authority financial reporting. The complexity of local authority accounts has contributed significantly to the current crisis in local audit

We believe that the funding for LEP functions should be integrated into a simplified, consolidated and long-term approach to growth funding.