Third sector
Think-tank's call for landfill tax devolution
A think-tank has called for a portion of the proceeds from landfill tax to be devolved to councils.
Health boost for Housing First residents, research finds
Housing First – under which homeless people are guaranteed a home while they access intensive long-term support – reduces demand on health and social care services, research published today has found.
Councils 'vital' to social prescribing success
Children’s charity Barnardo’s has said local authorities are ‘vital’ to the success of social prescribing as it called for a national strategy.
Little evaluation of mental health outcomes in police pilot, MPs told
Police failed to evaluate mental health outcomes after trialling a controversial new approach to attending incidents, MPs have learned.
Call for national mental health support team rollout
A top children’s services director has called for the ‘very highly regarded’ mental health support teams (MHST) model to be rolled out across the country.
EXCLUSIVE: Housing pressures may push councils into effective bankruptcy
Rising housing pressures will force some councils to effectively declare bankruptcy, a local authority chief executive with more than 40 years of experience in the sector has warned.
Fresh calls to raise local housing allowance as councils battle homelessness
Fresh calls have been made for ministers to increase local housing allowance (LHA) after research revealed 85% of English councils are facing an increase in homelessness.
Local government funding system has 'broken down'
The funding system for local government has ‘broken down’ and what councils currently receive from Whitehall and council tax barely reflects need, a think-tank has warned.
Pearce renews prevention call amid CAMHS spiral
England’s top director of children’s services has called for a greater focus on prevention amid spiralling demand for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Councils to call for delay to police mental health plan
Pressure is mounting on ministers to delay police plans to withdraw from attending non-emergency mental health callouts amid concerns across councils, NHS bodies and charities.
Home Office hotel use for lone child asylum seekers 'unlawful'
The High Court has found the Home Office’s use of hotels to house lone child asylum seekers to be unlawful.
Fears over ICB cuts impact
Planned cuts to staffing levels risk driving Integrated Care Boards (ICB) to look inwards over the coming months, a report has warned.
Unpredictable polls
There are reasons to expect this next set of local election results will be more unpredictable than usual, writes director of the think-tank IPPR North, Zoë Billingham.
Council concern over Afghan removal plan
Councils have expressed deep concerns about Government plans to remove Afghan refugees from hotel accommodation amid a ‘chronic’ shortage of affordable housing.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils stretched despite fund boost
Councils have raised the alarm over their capacity to deliver the Household Support Fund (HSF) as the new financial year begins.
Childcare warning after Budget announcement
Wider reform of childcare will be needed if ministers are to deliver a sustainable wraparound system for all families, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Expert warning over public health levelling up target
The Government’s ambitious public health levelling up mission is impossible to meet by its 2035 deadline with the available money, experts have warned.
Call for 'real action' as Government sidelines parks group
A member of the Government’s sidelined parks action group (PAG) has called for ‘real action’ after it was unofficially disbanded.
Braverman to overhaul Prevent
Home secretary Suella Braverman has accepted all 34 recommendations to overhaul Prevent after a review of the Government’s anti-terror programme.
Temporary accommodation up by 74% in 10 years
The number of people living in temporary accommodation has risen by an ‘alarming’ 74% in the last decade, new research from housing charity Shelter has found.