Local Government Association

Feedback report: 5 – 8 June 2023

​​​​​​​Taxpayers will continue to subsidise planning services by almost £5 million a week until the Government finalises measures to increase fees to cover the cost of processing applications, councils warn today.

“Council election teams are often small and so were reliant on help from areas without local elections to administer these changes last May. It is clear that as we approach future elections that this will not be sustainable, particularly in a general election."

We have brought together a range of stakeholders, people with lived experience, researchers, and experts in mental health, to independently develop a series of think pieces exploring children's mental health and provide an opportunity to think differently about what children and young people need to live well.

Children’s mental health and wellbeing is significant for the children and young people who experience poor mental health, their families and friends that support them, and the services that try their hardest to make a difference in their lives. This page provides an introduction from the Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board to the children and young people's mental health think pieces project and an LGA view.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill acts upon long running asks from councils and the LGA for further devolution in England. We are pleased that the Government has proposed to speed up the process and make good on its commitment to offer all of England the opportunity to benefit from a devolution deal by 2030. It is also important that councils of all sizes are engaged in the devolution process.

“The LGA has been warning of the risk from RAAC in schools since 2018. The Government should urgently establish a taskforce, including with the LGA and councils to ensure the safety of both pupils and staff in the long term."

On 14 July, the LGA released a statement calling for the Government to ban the sale and manufacture of disposable vapes by 2024. These FAQs provide more detail about our policy position.