Briefings and responses

Local government would welcome discussions with Government on potential impacts on councils of the Illegal Migration Bill. The Third Reading of the Bill will take place in the House of Lords on 10 July 2023. 

Local authorities are responsible for preventing the most vulnerable migrants from falling into destitution and homelessness.

Whilst announcements of new funds are welcome, this should not replace the core funding required to support integral local government services.

People can be vulnerable in a wide range of different ways. Councils are often at the forefront of understanding, mitigating and managing this complexity in their local communities.

The rising costs of fuel, food and other essentials are combining with existing disadvantage and vulnerability and putting many households at greater risk of both immediate hardship and reduced opportunity and wellbeing

More than 69,000 early years providers have temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, with many settings citing financial difficulties as a key reason. Among those that have remained open, many are operating at a loss.

Low income households can, potentially, mitigate the impact of reductions in benefits income by increasing their earning and reducing their outgoings.

A wider conversation on the constitutional settlement is needed to secure the position of local government across the United Kingdom.

Councils have been supporting all schools throughout the pandemic, including working to support vulnerable pupils and interpreting guidance to help ensure learning has continued as safely and effectively as possible .

Councils are just about managing to keep leisure facilities running but in many cases, these facilities are coming to the end of their lifespan. In 2017, we highlighted figures that showed that 60 per cent of swimming pools are now more than 20 years old.