Strange how a minister wouldn't take questions at a social care conference last week because of the pre-election period, but the government can brief a statuory inquiry into Birmingham City Council the day before Andy Street is up for election telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/…

The number of asylum seekers councils have helped with a homelessness duty after they have been evicted from Home Office hotels has increased by 634% over two years, according to DLUHC's latest homelessness figures

lgcplus.com/services/housi…

Explore our council intervention map (quick, while it's still up-to-date...)

It's the 50th anniversary of much of local government in England.

I've been talked into writing an LGC briefing about what local government might look 50 years in the future.

What should I be exploring in the article? All ideas and inspiration welcome!

It's 50 years since the landmark reform of local government.

But Prof Tony Travers writes that far from putting in place a robust system of local government, 'it heralded a near-permanent revolution of structures and types of leadership' lgcplus.com/politics/gover…

This investigation took months of research. Well worth a read, if I might say so myself. Also, spoiler- the reason behind the surge in prices is not as straight forward as I was led to believe.
lgcplus.com/services/child…

Chancellor: ‘way to improve public services is not always more money’

Discus.

Budget live blog: Latest on what the chancellor's plans mean for councils lgcplus.com/finance/budget…

Household support fund gets just a six month extension- another sticking plaster

I’m sure the lobbying for further extension will start imminently…

#Budget

So called exceptional financial support is the logical conclusion to the extreme short-termism that has characterised successive Conservative governments since Brexit - my LGC briefing from last night