The government's vague flood defence objectives are leaving English homes and businesses vulnerable to climate change.

The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has published new analysis on the use of data in local government during the coronavirus pandemic.
Drawing on findings from a forum attended by local authorities across the country, in which they explored changes to data use during the pandemic and discussed barriers to data-driven innovation, the advisory body has stressed that action is needed to maintain councils’ momentum in supporting communities through data-driven innovation.

The Local Government Association has warned that serious child harm cases reported by councils rise by more than a quarter during pandemic.
Government figures show that the total number of serious incident notifications in England during the first half (April to September) of the reporting year 2020/21 increased by 27 per cent, from 224 to 285, on the same period last year. This follows a decrease of 18 per cent between 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Local elections in England will go ahead as planned in May, despite doubts over whether it would be right for them to do so.

One in five people on Universal Credit say that they are ‘very likely’ to turn to a foodband, if the £20 rise is removed.

The TUC has reported that increasing demand for self-isolation support is leaving local authorities facing large funding shortfalls.
Demand for self-isolation payments is significantly outstripping the available funding, as 70 per cent of applicants end up without financial support. This is putting pressure on local authorities to either fill the gap themselves, reject applications from low-paid workers who need financial support to self-isolate or, in some cases, close schemes altogether.

The government looks set to fall far short of its commitment on house building, with fewer than 100,000 homes built during the first three quarters of 2020.

Oxford City Council has outlined how it aims to achieve its goal of becoming a zero carbon council by 2030 by reducing its carbon emissions.

The Public Accounts Committee has claimed that government progress on improving the natural environment is disappointing.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and London Councils have launched a new taskforce to tackle digital exclusion in the city and source new and upcycled electronic devices for children learning remotely, as well as adults working from home.