Briefings and responses

Data shows that council-maintained schools receive better Ofsted ratings, and improve more quickly, than academy schools.

Our response to DCMS' review into the future of the museums sector.  

Locally commissioned employment support programmes can help to provide tailored support to people who have complex conditions and find it difficult to overcome certain barriers to access the jobs market.

Local government shares the collective national ambition to build one million new homes. Housebuilding is currently well below the levels required for an efficient and fully functioning housing market.

For some people, the local pharmacy is their only contact with a health professional, providing access to invaluable health advice and enabling older people to live more independently.

The programme of reviews, covering further education and sixth form colleges, is taking place in waves and is due to completed by end of March 2017. Read the full briefing:

There is clear evidence that where people are born into or experience poverty, it significantly impacts on their life chances.

Councils have continually raised on-going concerns over residents' lack of access to fast and reliable broadband especially in rural areas

Councils have an excellent track record in welcoming unaccompanied children for many years and continue to work hard to support the many programmes for refugees and asylum seekers in current operation.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is preparing to launch a new Work and Health Programme (WHP) for people with health conditions and disabilities and those unemployed for over two years. It will replace the current Work Programme (WP) and Work Choice contracts.