New analysis from the Labour Party has found that the UK only has 15 per cent of the charging points it needs to meet net zero.
Labour has warned of a gulf emerging between those who can access the benefits of the transition to electric vehicles and those who will be locked out – because of the patchy access to charging points across the country and the upfront price of vehicles.

The Youth Endowment Fund has launched a new Toolkit to help local authorities provide support to children at risk of involvement in violence.

Councils are being encouraged to support businesses to set-up temporary ‘pop-up’ campsites without the need to apply for planning permission.

People in care homes or those being cared for at home will benefit from an extra £250 million to protect them from coronavirus transmission.

The National Audit office has released its second report on the government’s approach to test and trace services in England.
The report says that, although the NHS Test and Trace service has expanded its testing capacity, tracing activities and distribution of rapid tests, it still has much further to go to reduce the overall time taken for reaching all cases and their contacts.

Oliver Dowden has announced that the final £300 million of the Culture Recovery Fund will support organisations in need of urgent funding.

The number of children needing foster care in England is set to rise by almost a third by 2030, but councils have inadequate plans in place.

CIPFA has announced that a strengthened Prudential Code will be published by the end of 2021.

Councillors have called on the government to give greater priority to social care and start committing more resources to it now.