A £27.1 million scheme to reduce flood risk to 4,800 properties in Blackpool is being officially opened by Blackpool Council and the Environment Agency.

New guidance to ensure victims of domestic abuse can easily access safe, long-term accommodation has been published.
The guidance, which is subject to a 10-week consultation, makes it clear that local authorities should treat victims of domestic abuse as a priority for social housing.
Domestic abuse victims currently occupy safe accommodation such as a refuge.
The guidance also makes clear that those victims who have fled to refuges in other parts of the country should not be disadvantaged in accessing social housing.

Encouraging elderly people to take exercise could help tackle the UK’s ageing crisis and save the care sector billions, according to campaigners.
A new report from ukactive says innovative solutions and encouragement from pharmacists and meals on wheels staff could save billions of pounds in NHS and social care costs.
With one in five of the UK population due to be aged 65 or more by 2025 and social care currently costing the country £100 billion per year, the authors warn that failure to promote regular physical activity among older adults could be ‘catastrophic’.

Leisure centres could fall into a state of disrepair and even be forced to close without urgent new investment from government, the LGA has warned.

The Prime Minister has announced a new drive to improve workplace equality and end the gender pay gap.
Theresa May has called on more companies to report their gender pay gap and take action to close it.
New figures published by the ONS show the UK’s overall gender pay gap rising marginally to 18.4 per cent, but the gap for full-time workers falling to a record low.

The Environment Secretary has opened a £40 million grant scheme for investment in farm technology and equipment.
Speaking at the 2017 World Diary Summit in Belfast, the Secretary of State Michael Gove will invite farmers and food processors to apply for grants under the Countryside Productivity scheme.
Under the scheme, grants are available to help livestock, dairy, arable and horticultural farmers improve farm productivity through investing in new technology, such as robotics, to reduce cost or improve product quality.

London needs to build 66,000 new homes every year to meet its growing need and put right years of underinvestment, new figures have revealed.
The Mayor Sadiq Khan is calling on government to commit to profoundly boosting the funding and powers available to London at the Budget in order to meet this need, and as a first step return government funding for affordable housing in the capital to the level it was at in 2009/2010.

New renewable energy systems are being installed in more of the county’s fire stations, using natural warmth from under the earth’s surface.
Approval has been given to Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet to invest in three or more Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) at Bellingham, Allendale and Rothbury retained fire stations.

Birmingham City Council is working in a partnership to install security measures ahead of this year’s Christmas festivities.

The contract to maintain Liverpool’s parks and green spaces is to be taken over by the council-owned company which operates the refuse and recycling service.