Media & Campaigns

Latest releases

• LGA responds to announcement of Big Society programme

  Responding to the announcement of the Government’s Big Society programme, Dame Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “We proposed a general power of competence to give councils greater freedom to save money and deliver great services that people want. It is good news that the new Government has listened. This will deliver better results for communities, and citizens will truly believe their vote matters, helping to create a more vibrant local democracy.

  Added on: 18 May 2010

• LGA statement on the new Government

  Local government is ready with the ideas to help the incoming Government deal with the choppy financial waters ahead and deliver vital public sector reforms.

  Added on: 14 May 2010

• Open Election Data project

  The Local Government Association and Socitm, the public sector ICT professionals’ body, are lending their support to an initiative designed to get council election information and results more widely published.

  Added on: 27 April 2010

• Thousands to work through the night to provide record number of Thursday counts

  A record number of constituencies are set to have their votes counted on the night of the General Election, council leaders revealed today.

  Added on: 6 May 2010

• Late payment vote good news for councils and businesses - LGA

  The European Parliament has voted against proposals that would have required councils and NHS organisations to pay out up to £600m in fines for late payments to businesses

  Added on: 29 April 2010

• Councils kick off St. George's Day celebrations

  Councils across England are preparing to celebrate St George’s Day today with thousands of people expected to take part.

  Added on: 22 April 2010

• LGA Group responds to Audit Commission report into Doncaster Council

  The LGA Group responds to the Audit Commission's report following the Corporate Governance Inspection at Doncaster Council.

  Added on: 20 April 2010

• John Ransford to be LGA Group Chief Executive until late 2011

  The Chairman of the Local Government Association, Dame Margaret Eaton, has today announced that John Ransford will be Chief Executive of the LGA Group until late 2011.

  Added on: 19 April 2010

• Trading Standards working to clear mephedrone from shelves before ban

  Trading standards officers from councils across the country are working with retailers to ensure mephedrone is no longer on sale when the ban on the substance comes into force

  Added on: 16 April 2010

• Knowledge the 'missing ingredient' in giving under fives the right diet

  The lack of clear guidance about a good diet for the under fives means that even the best-intentioned nursery schools are sometimes providing small children with the wrong proportions of food and nutrients, council regulators warned today, following the publication of new research.

  Added on: 14 April 2010

• Committee report recognises work of councils in helping young people reach their potential

  Responding to the publication of a DCSF committee report into young people not in education, employment or training, Dame Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "Nobody wants our children to grow up in a world where their potential is wasted by a system which doesn’t give them the right support at the right times."

  Added on: 8 April 2010

• £110m cost to taxpayers of landfill tax extension

  New figures released today show that Government plans to increase taxes on throwing away rubbish will cost council taxpayers an estimated £110m.

  Added on: 3 April 2010

• Deputy Chief Executive of LGA to be chief executive secondment of Doncaster

  Following the departure of the acting Chief Executive of Doncaster Council, Tim Leader, the Deputy Chief Executive of the LGA, Jo Miller, is to be seconded as the interim Chief Executive of the Authority. The secondment will last for up to two months in order to help the authority during a period of transition and change to ensure its performance improves in 2010.

  Added on: 1 April 2010

• Response to Taxpayers’ Alliance report on top earners

  Responding to the report on local authority pay by The Taxpayers' Alliance, a spokesman for the LGA said: "Councils need talented people in top management positions but they have to balance this with the need, in a tight financial situation, for all salaries to be demonstrably reasonable."

  Added on: 1 April 2010

• Transfer of education powers 'fantastic progress' in putting students and families first

  The £7 billion transfer of responsibility for post-16 education to local authorities is the start of a power shift to town halls and to families themselves which will help to provide the best system for young people as they grow up, council leaders said today.

  Added on: 1 April 2010

• LGA heralds recognition of councils' vital role in adult care White Paper

  Responding to the publication of the Government White Paper, which gives councils a lead role in delivering the future of adult social care, Dame Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "It is a step forward that we have been listened to, and the importance of local councils in delivering top quality care has been recognised."

  Added on: 30 March 2010

• Total Place report an important first step to better local services that cost less - LGA

  Responding to the publication of the government's report on findings from the Total Place pilot areas, Chairman of the Local Government Association Improvement Board, Cllr David Parsons said: "The Total Place report highlights the excellent work councils have done, leading their areas to find ways of delivering better services for less."

  Added on: 26 March 2010

• Potholes being fixed at record rate - LGA

  Responding to the new figures showing councils filled in an extra 400,000 potholes this year, and to the budget announcement that councils will be given an extra £100m to tackle potholes, Cllr David Sparks, Chair of the Local Government Association Transport and Regeneration Board, said:

  Added on: 25 March 2010

• Chancellor announces £100m for potholes - councils respond

  Responding to the budget announcement that councils will be given an extra £100m to tackle potholes, Cllr David Sparks, Chair of the Local Government Association Transport and Regeneration Board, said:

  Added on: 24 March 2010

• LGA responds to council tax announcement

  the LGA responds to today's confirmation that council tax will rise next year by the lowest level ever

  Added on: 24 March 2010

• LGA calls for councils to be 'freed from out-dated rules' on libraries

  Responding to the publication of the Government’s proposals to regulate and standardise England’s libraries, Cllr Chris White, Chair of the Culture, Tourism and Sport board at the LGA, said: “While the Government has been conducting a lengthy review into how to modernise libraries, councils have been busy on the ground making the necessary changes to ensure libraries remain popular, relevant and useful."

  Added on: 22 March 2010

• LGA responds to Shelter research on housing

  Responding to Shelter’s affordable homes league table, Cllr Gary Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association Environment Board, said: “It is depressing that an organisation which presents itself as a serious advocate for better housing policy is using flawed research to lay the blame for the shortage of affordable housing at councils’ doors.

  Added on: 22 March 2010

• LGA response to Ed Balls announcement on child social work

  Responding to the Working Together guidance announced by Children’s Secretary, Ed Balls, which appears to scrap the costly recommendation from Lord Laming that required every referral from another professional to be followed up by a formal process known as an initial assessment, Cllr Shireen Ritchie, Chair of the LGA Children and Young People board, said: “It will be a relief for councils up and down the country that the recommendation from Lord Laming surrounding initial assessments appears to have been scrapped

  Added on: 18 March 2010