Local government's responsibility for public health brings challenges but also provides opportunities for councils to demonstrate their skills at partnership working to tackle one of the nation's top health priorities, writes Henry Ashworth.

Local authorities thought they had it tough. Continuing to deliver effective public services in the face of tightening budgets was never going to be easy. Local government's new responsibility for public health – due to begin in earnest this week – brings further challenges, but it also provides a real opportunity for councils to demonstrate both their versatility, and skill at partnership working to tackle the top public health priorities.