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“The Committee is absolutely right to say the Government’s infrastructure projects need to be more responsive to local need, with local support and local input."

“It is councils who know their local areas best, so they should be given the freedom to work with their local communities to get on with planning active travel infrastructure such as cycling schemes."

We need a radical rethink of what we want social care to be and how we can help achieve it.

“Housing must be a central part of the national recovery from coronavirus. Now is the time for a genuine renaissance in council house-building that reduces homelessness, gets rough sleepers off the streets for good, supports people’s wellbeing and is climate-friendly.”

“Cost-effective prevention work by councils is critical to reducing the risk of people having their lives shortened by obesity-related conditions and tackling the stark health inequalities so ruthlessly exposed by this pandemic."

“This report highlights the significant benefits of investing in buses so that these vital services, which have continued to be a lifeline for people in accessing vital services during the pandemic, don’t fall off a cliff edge."

“People of all ages should be able to live the lives they want to lead and councils are doing all they can to protect social care services, despite the impact of the pandemic exacerbating the serious long-term funding and demand pressures facing adult social care."

"Councils need the public’s cooperation to help keep parks, green spaces and streets free from litter."

Responding to the expansion of the flu vaccination programme, Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Vice Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Extending the free winter flu jab to as many people as possible is essential if we are to tackle two potentially deadly viruses head-on and prevent one seasonable and predictable virus creating the conditions for a second, more serious and unpredictable deadly second wave of COVID-19. “We are pleased the Government has widened the criteria for a free jab and urge it to consider whether a free flu jab can also be offered

'We have been highlighting the perilous financial state that these services are in and are pleased with the Committee’s recommendation that leisure centres should be given financial support before August.'