The Local Government Association (LGA) claims to have saved taxpayers an estimated £1.3bn by securing amendments to the Government's Localism Bill, which completed its passage through Parliament on Monday.

Amendments to the Bill have now been completed and, as The MJ went to press, ministers were awaiting Royal Assent. Under the Bill's original proposals, councils would have been liable for fines – including those covering recycling and air quality – levied against the UK by the EU. The LGA estimates this could have cost the sector as much as £1bn.