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Hotels have already begun to close to Afghan households across the country and - as we feared - councils are already seeing families presenting to them as homeless as a result.

The infographics reveal that, while local government is the largest single biggest funder of culture, this investment remains under threat due to the multitude of funding steams as well as the system for funding bids.

Local government stands ready to work with national government on their detailed delivery plans to ensure practical solutions to these long-standing problems are found.

“We have been pressing for a pragmatic solution to the backlog in local audit so today’s announcement is positive. We are also pleased the Government has acted on our calls for backstop dates to avoid pre-election periods.

The roll-out of five-year local housing deals by 2025 would lead to 200,000 additional social homes being built over the span of 30 years, a new report by the Local Government Association says today.

Cllr Peter Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board, said: “Public sector workers do an incredible job to keep local services running day-in, day-out. However, while it is good that the Government will fund higher pay awards for parts of the public sector, the announcement did not provide any additional funding for pay in local government. Pay awards in local government are funded through council budgets. Those budgets continue to face severe and unprecedented challenges and therefore the pay offer in local government needs to be affordable to the sector. “The LGA will continue

“This Spending Review will be critical to the future of our local services with councils facing a funding gap of more than £6 billion over the next two years.

“The most effective way to support low-income households is through an adequately resourced national safety net and sustainable long-term funding for vital council services."

This is a hugely important report by Baroness Hallett and, on behalf of local government, we thank her for her work to help the nation reflect on and understand what happened.

The legislative agenda set out today also includes some encouraging signs that the new Government recognises that, with the right powers and flexibilities, councils are critical to help it deliver its missions.