A partnership of organisations representing local government has launched a new National Alliance for Cultural Services.
According to the Local Government Association (LGA), councils are the biggest public funder of culture in England. However, the rising demand in adult and children’s social care, and homelessness services, alongside a 24 per cent real terms reduction in core spending power from 2010/11 to 2024/25 is squeezing all other budgets.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has proposed new consumer standards designed to protect tenants and improve the service they receive.
The changes are part of the Social Housing Regulation Act and will come into effect from 1 April 2024.
The regulations will apply to all social landlords, including councils and housing associations.
The new standards will mean that landlords will have to make sure that tenants are safe in their homes and listen to tenants’ complaints and respond promptly to put things right.

£220 million has been given to councils across the country to help prevent families becoming homeless and also help rough sleepers off the streets.
The funding boost will target the areas most in need and also includes specialist support for the most vulnerable who require mental health or substance misuse support.  
£107 million will be spent on 800 homes for rough sleepers. This money will be made available immediately for councils to purchase or rent properties to give rough sleepers a safe space to stay whilst they rebuild their lives off the streets.

£19 million from the Levelling Up Fund is to be used to redevelop the former Bridgwater Hospital site in Somerset into a training centre of excellence for health and social care.
The site will be redeveloped into a new facility for developing the skills of the care sector workforce in Somerset.
The building will be remodelled to provide high-tech training spaces and meeting rooms.
The front of the building will be preserved and a new two-storey structure will connect to the back.

In a survey carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA), two-thirds of councils have warned that communities will see cutbacks to local neighbourhood services this year.
Struggling to plug funding gaps, councils have warned there could be cuts to waste collection, road repairs, library, and leisure services.
Ahead of next week's spring budget, the LGA has called on the government to  provide further funding to address the growing financial crisis facing councils and local services.

The ECF, formerly known as the English Cities Fund has increased to £400 million in an attempt to support and unlock the potential of towns and cities across England.
ECG is a partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse. It has been expanded with the injection of an additional £100m of equity from the partners, to be matched by an additional £100m of debt.
It was first created in 2001 with £100m of investment to boost priority regeneration areas.

The next government could add £51.2 billion to the economy by building 90,000 social rented homes, according to new research released today.

£5.9 million of Welsh Government support has been given to businesses investing in research and innovation across the country.

The Honourable Mr Justice Swift has been appointed deputy chair of the Boundary Commission for England (BCE).
He will hold the role from 16 February 2024 to 15 February 2027.
The BCE is an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office.
As required by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, The Boundary Commission for England reviews the parliamentary constituencies in England every five years.

According to RAC analysis of government statistics, council road maintenance in England dropped by 45 per cent in 2022/23 compared to five years ago. This amounts to 3,366 fewer miles receiving any kind of improvement work.
The figures show that 764 miles of A roads were strengthened, resurfaced or preserved in 2022/23, this is a 37 per cent decrease (458 miles) from 1,222 in 2017/2018.
For minor roads listed as B, C, and unclassified, the numbers were 3,380 in the last financial year compared to 6,288 five years before, marking a drop of 46 per cent (2,908 miles).