The LGA has outlined guidance to help residents sort legitimate information from councils from ‘fake news’ which can be inaccurate and misleading.

The UK has the sixth-worst long-term rate of excess winter mortality out of 30 European countries.

The Environmental Audit Committee has argued that the government has not ‘adequately acted upon’ recent recommendations on deposit return schemes.

Housing Minister Dominic Raab has announced new funding to help speed up planning decisions and help the government deliver, quality new homes.
Totalling £15.8 million, the investment should enable councils to process more applications, implement new reforms and also train planners to tackle the housing challenges faced by their local area. The funding will also support greater best practice and innovation within councils as they decide planning applications, resulting in more being determined over a shorter period of time.

Although many councils are increasing their council tax, the LGA has warned that many communities will still see a reduction in local services.

UK public sector employees make up 25 per cent of total employees but produce more than 39 per cent of all unpaid overtime.

Brighton & Hove City Council has announced a 5.99 per cent council tax increase, to help invest £6 million for its adult social care services.

The LGA has said that rogue landlords who commit housing offences should be fined a minimum of £30,000 by magistrates.

Approximately 99 per cent of low and high level street lights in Leicestershire have been upgraded to energy savings LEDs.

Hampshire County Council has written to all 11 of its district council leaders proposing one combined authority across the whole of the region.
Quick to quash recent reports, Roy Perry, council leader, said that the council does not wish to re-open talks on a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Solent area, but strongly believes that ‘there is scope for enhancing the original Combined Authority bid to cover more co-operation between all tiers of local government, on housing delivery and with the health authorities, particularly for social care’.