Right to Buy discounts near £5bn
Tenants have received discounts of nearly £5 billion to help purchase their council homes under the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme since the size of the discount was increased in April 2012, according to new LGA analysis.
The Editorial Team
More funding for councils
Councils in England will receive a further £1.6 billion for their response to the coronavirus, taking total funding from government for the pandemic to more than £3.2 billion.
Shielding the most vulnerable
The Government has issued guidance for local authorities and local resilience forums on the system to support those who are medically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.
Frontline worker tests
All essential workers in England – and members of their household – will now be eligible for coronavirus tests, it was announced as first was going to press.
Under-16s ‘to be banned’ from unregulated accommodation
The Government is consulting on plans to make it illegal to put children in care aged under 16 in unregulated accommodation, amid concerns that some are being left at risk of exploitation.
Holding council meetings online
The coronavirus pandemic has brought about fast-paced changes to the way we live and work.
Action plan for social care
The Government has launched an Action Plan for Adult Social Care, setting out the four key areas that underpin its approach to supporting social care during the coronavirus pandemic.
Latest ONS statistics
Around one in six coronavirus-related deaths occurred outside hospitals – including in care homes – according to the latest Office for National Statistics figures.
Councils ‘helping firms access funding’
Councils have been working ‘at pace’ to identify and contact eligible businesses to support them to apply for government funding since 1 April, and continue to distribute the cash as quickly as possible.
‘Suspend academy conversions’
Academy conversions should be suspended to help overstretched councils focus on supporting schools and nurseries to stay open, the LGA has said.