Briefings and responses

Government must be mindful of balancing interests of national growth with the role of local councils and councillors, as well as trust and democracy in the planning system.

Consultation response from the Local Government Association (LGA)

This briefing details the new Bills of relevance to local government and the LGA’s initial response to them.

The LGA response to the DCMS Tourism Inquiry, to ensure that the important role councils play in the visitor economy is recognised.

Ensuring local planning authorities have the resources they need to administer the planning system is critical; currently, nine out of ten planning departments report difficulties with recruitment, and almost all (97 per cent) report significant planning skills gaps.

Consultation response from the LGA.

The government launched a consultation on the New Towns Draft Programme, which sets out proposals to deliver a new generation of large-scale new towns across England. It was open from 23 March to 19 May 2026.

This briefing outlines the LGA’s views on the Social Housing Bill ahead of its second reading in the House of Lords on 1 June 2026.

The LGA recognises the ambition to reform the National Health Service (NHS) and improve how services are delivered.

The Local Government Association (LGA) supports the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and its ambition to create a simpler, fairer, and more secure tenancy system.