Cleansing and waste workers could begin industrial action in weeks in Scotland, affecting half of the country's councils.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that the percentage of councils’ total housing budget which is being spent on homelessness and temporary accommodation has more than tripled since 2015.
The LGA is calling on the next government to relieve pressure on council budgets by resetting the relationship between local and national government.

London Councils' Low Carbon Development Toolkit wins award
A Low Carbon Development Toolkit, designed in collaboration between London Councils and the London Borough of Hackney, has won an award in the 'Planning to address climate change' category at the 2024 Planning Awards.
The award recognises efforts to advance low carbon development through strategic planning and collaboration.

A council in Northumberland has launched a project aimed at planting and showcasing trees in the community.
On 26 June, Ovington Parish Council officially launched the Ovington Trees Project, including a website, walking guide, and map.
Nearly 4,000 trees have been planted, along a five-mile 'linear arboretum'.
The project has been realised in partnership with 11 landowners, the county council, charities, and more than 100 volunteers.
The project aims to increase overall tree stock in the area and as a result increase biodiversity.

The Scottish Parliament has passed technical changes to the short-term lets licensing scheme.
The Licensing was introduced in 2022 to provide assurance to guests on safety and quality, for example of gas and electrical safety compliance and the suitability of hosts.

The Scottish Government has passed the Circular Economy Bill, giving ministers and local authorities tools to increase reuse and recycling rates.

Government action is needed to end the institutionalisation of disabled people, activists have urged.

Think tank and charity Green Alliance is urging the next government to develop a new three-stage UK resource plan. 

The Instisute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has examined the Labour party's promise to introduce free breakfast clubs in all primary schools in England.
Around 12 per cent of state schools in England already offer a taxpayer-subsidised breakfast club through the National School Breakfast Club Programme (NSBP), but Labour’s proposal would expand breakfast clubs to all primary schools in England, continue existing provision for low-income pupils via the NSBP (which is set to run out in July 2025) and increase the generosity of the funding.

A think tank has emphasised the need for an incident reporting system to log artificial intelligence (AI) misuse or malfunctions.