Rishi Sunak will announce that public sector workers will see above inflation pay rises this year.

England’s poorest communities are at greater risk of a second wave of coronavirus owing to imbalances in the test-and-trace system.

Ministers have announced that people using pubs, restaurants and cafes will soon have greater freedom to choose non-smoking outdoor areas.
The Local Government Association has said that smoke-free pavements outside pubs, cafes and bars should be introduced to make them more family-friendly and healthy spaces.

An electric refuse collection vehicle will be undergoing trials in Oxford this week.  
ODS, which manages all the waste collection for Oxford City Council and many local businesses, is leading the trial, and will be assessing how it performs while collecting waste across the city.
The vehicle is being provided by Dennis Eagle Ltd at its specialist refuse vehicle manufacturing plant in Warwickshire. Oxford will be taking its first delivery of an electric heavy goods vehicle in January but is preparing for that moment with real-life testing this month.

The Department for Education has announced per pupil funding increases under the national funding formula from 2021.

Councils have been given new powers to close shops and shut outdoor public spaces to manage local outbreaks of coronavirus.

The government has made Changing Places toilets compulsory in new buildings, backed by £30 million in funding.

Plans to help ensure the most vulnerable continue to have a roof over their heads have been launched by Robert Jenrick.

The government is set to publish its landmark Bill to deliver the biggest changes to building safety for nearly 40 years.

Councils have said that smoke-free pavements outside pubs, cafes and bars should be introduced to make them healthier spaces.