The National Cycle Network is so starved of funding that many of its bike paths are in poor condition and are in desperate need of improvements.
Sustrans, the charity responsible for its development and upkeep, has launched its ‘Paths for everyone’ report, unveiling  the current state of the 23-year-old Network and a long-term plan to make it traffic-free and tackle physical problems.

More than half of young people facing homelessness who approached their local council for help last year received no meaningful support.

Newcastle City Council has detailed proposals on how it plans to save £60 million to set balanced budgets over the next three years.
The proposals state how the authority will bridge the £20 million gap next year and broad proposals for years two and three, proposing a council tax rise of 2.95 per cent and implementing the government’s one per cent Adult Social Care Precept, meaning an extra 3.95 per cent rise in bills for residents.

The free childcare scheme is being questioned again as more than half of private nurseries have increased their fees in the past year.

The government has announced a £22 million funding allocation for projects that support and work with domestic abuse survivors.

The Midlands Engine Partnership will use £1.5 million to pioneer cutting-edge technology across the Midlands.

The council has outlined the services it believes residents should reasonably expect to be offered in the current difficult financial climate.

To tackle a growing overspend and balance its budget, Shropshire Council has told its staff they must work from home one day a month.
Predicting an £6.8 million overspend on its gross budget of £561.95 million for this financial year, the council says staff will work from home on the last Friday of every month, and from January council buildings will shut at noon every Friday.

New figures have revealed that thousands of people in England are still living in tower blocks with unsafe cladding.