Poverty and inequality are financial challenges for local authorities and threaten the cohesion of their communities.
This briefing summarises a report produced jointly by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CiH) and the London Borough of Haringey on the impacts of the benefits cap. The report’s publication on 23 October was the cause of some considerable controversy. The benefit cap limits the total amount of welfare benefits any working age household with…
The LGiU, in partnership with Mears, The British Red Cross and Camden Council have launched a new guide on how to map preventative budgets. For a long time, an emphasis of investment in preventative services has been a part of the political consensus. “Prevention is better than cure” is age-old adage, but putting this into…
This briefing is a further update on developments in welfare reform since the publication of the final Universal Credit regulations on 10 December 2012. It draws on developments and commentary since December 2012, examining in particular the likely impacts of several key features of the reform. Included are selected documents and statistics relating to the…
On Your Radar provides regular updates on information from central government and other key organisations; looks back over the last period, ahead at what could be hitting the headlines and comments on issues relevant to local government that will be influencing the political landscape over the coming months. This edition contains: Upcoming briefings Consultations Select…
'- The research agency NatCen released it’s thirtieth British Social Attitudes Survey on 10th September 2013. Each year NatCen's British Social Attitudes survey asks over 3,000 people what it's like to live in Britain and what they think about how Britain is run. - The thirtieth survey examines the theory that greater individualisation is having…
This month the LGiU and the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) launched a new report focusing on the relationship between local authorities and the private rented sector (PRS). House Proud: how councils can raise standards in the private rented sector, used original research to identify examples of best practice and make a series of recommendations for…
The Treasury have published Tax-Free Childcare: consultation on design and operation which will be phased in from autumn 2015 replacing over time the existing system of Employer Supported Childcare. The consultation also covers details of the planned increase in childcare support within Universal Credit, available from April 2016, as childcare support moves from tax credits…
In March 2013 the House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change published its report of the 2012-13 session. The report raised concerns that public services are seriously underprepared for the dramatic shift towards an older population. The Government’s response outlines specific actions it is taking to address some of those concerns.…
The LGiU published regular briefings as usual in August but as many people are on holiday then we thought it would be useful to let you have links to them here in case you missed ones you may wish to see.
• The think-tank Centre for Social Justice published a report called Turning the Tide on 5th August 2013. The report is a short study of five seaside towns – Rhyl, Margate, Clacton-on-Sea, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth – looking at how social breakdown has affected some smaller communities, asking what factors continue to hold them back, and…
