From the LGA's Chairman

Dear Colleague

This weekend will mark one-year since the first two official COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the UK. It is difficult to comprehend the tragedy that has unfolded since, with more than 100,000 people now having lost their life to the virus and the number of coronavirus cases recorded around the world having passed 100 million. One in eight Britons have lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19, a new poll by YouGov has revealed this week. Even in our worst fears last January, none of us could have imagined the devastating impact the virus would have on our lives. Those lost to this virus must be remembered and we should never forget that behind every statistic is somebody’s life taken too soon.  

A total of 2,648 hospital admissions of people with COVID-19 in England were reported for January 25, this is down 29 per cent on the equivalent figure a week before and is the lowest number since December 31. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital in England stood at 30,846 as of Wednesday. This is down 9 per cent on a week earlier and is the lowest number since January 10. While cases and hospitalisations are coming down, they remain high and national restrictions are set to continue for some weeks to come. The Prime Minister has told Parliament that he will set out plans in the week of February 22 for a “gradual and phased” route out of lockdown and ruled that schools will not be able to open until March 8 at the earliest. 

Latest figures show 8,369,438 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in the UK, this is an increase of 445,941 in the past 24 hours. A total of 7,891,184 people have received their first dose, with 478,254 of those also having received a second dose. It is also encouraging that another coronavirus vaccine, from manufacturer Novavax, has been shown to be 89.3 per cent effective in large-scale UK trials. Not least because it has proved effective against new variants of the virus. Approval is now needed from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency with the UK having ordered 60 million doses. Trial results have also shown a one-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson is 66 per cent effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. 

React survey   

The number of people infected with coronavirus is at the highest level recorded in England since May, according to findings from the latest React Study from Imperial College London. The research, which saw more than 167,600 volunteers tested in England between January 6 and 22, showed that one in 64 people were infected with COVID-19. Regional prevalence was highest in London at 2.83 per cent per 100,000 people, while in the South West it was 0.87 per cent. Prevalence increased nationally in all adult age groups and was highest in 18 to 24-year-olds at 2.44 per cent per 100,000 people, while prevalence in the over-65s is 0.93 per cent. 

Figures out today show the reproduction number (R rate) of coronavirus transmission across the UK is between 0.7 and 1.1. Last week, it was between 0.8 and 1. The growth rate, which estimates how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, shows the number of new infections is broadly flat or shrinking by up to 5 per cent every day. 

Vaccinations  

Latest weekly data on COVID-19 vaccinations in England has been published, covering the period between December 8 to January 24. The figures, broken down by Sustainability and Transformation Partnership level, show that more regions are now at or near giving 80 per cent of people aged 80 and over their first dose, with London currently on 65.4 per cent. The data also now includes a breakdown by ethnicity. At least 10 per cent of the white British population of England are likely to have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, compared with around 6 per cent of the Asian population and 4 per cent of the black population.    The Department for Health and Social Care has identified more people who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) to COVID-19 due to a combination of factors such as age, sex, ethnicity and the range of underlying health conditions or treatments in addition to specific clinical conditions as currently. We will provide more information as we have it and if you have any concerns or questions in the meantime, please share these with your regional Principal Adviser. 

Care home vaccinations 

Ahead of the deadline to vaccinate all residents and staff in care homes this weekend, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) has written to set out next steps. The letter asks that directors of public health (DsPH) provide information on care homes which could not be visited to deliver vaccinations, as a result of local infection outbreaks, by January 31. We have sought further clarification from NHSEI on what is being asked. They have clarified that affected DsPHs will be contacted by the NHS for a simple update on the relevant care homes.   

There were 708 suspected COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes in the UK reported to Public Health England in the seven days to January 24. This is down from 887 suspected outbreaks the week before. 

Test and trace  

A total of 274,898 people tested positive for COVID-19 in England at least once in the week to January 20, according to the latest weekly Test and Trace figures. This is down 17 per cent on the previous week and is the lowest number since the week to December 23. Of the 275,351 people referred to the Test and Trace system in the week to January 20, 85.9 per cent were reached and asked to provide details of recent close contacts. This is down slightly from 87.3 per cent in the previous week.  

Hospital discharge funding  

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have been contacted by NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) about the end of hospital discharge funding on 31 March. This has been used to pay for the cost of care packages following hospital discharge, covering either the full package for those in care from 27 March to 31 August, or up to six weeks’ care since 1 September. CCGs, with their council counterparts, have been asked to provide the number of cases, and their associated costs, from the March to August cohort still using this additional funding.  

I know this communication has led to some confusion about when the funding will cease. NHSEI has confirmed that care packages, regardless of when they start, will still be funded up to 31 March even if this means the package is less than six weeks.  

Alongside our NHS colleagues, we continue to encourage the Government to continue this funding in recognition of the sustained pressures facing health and care services, and on hospital discharges in particular.     

Workforce Capacity Fund 

You will have received a letter from Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) providing further details on the previously announced £120 million Workforce Capacity Fund. This is a ringfenced adult social care grant for measures that provide additional staffing for adult social care providers, including those with whom the local authority does not have a contract, and maintain continuity of care. The letter calls on councils to use this funding to target providers with the most urgent staffing shortages. We have worked with DHSC on the guidance to accompany the funding which includes examples of strategies used by some local authorities and providers to supplement and strengthen adult social care workforce capacity. 

We expect the Government to announce a national recruitment campaign alongside the funding. Further information should be released in the coming days but we have been told that all councils will be asked to put forward a named individual to receive data about the campaign.  

Health for Care  

A coalition of 15 national health organisations has called on government to deliver on its pledge to reform and find a sustainable funding solution for adult social care. Health for Care’s new report ‘Let’s Do This: The promise of fixing social care’ says the pandemic has served to highlight again the important relationship between health and social care, while also warning of very high staff vacancy numbers in social care, along with low pay, status and career opportunities.     

Social care plays an incredibly valuable role in its own right. This value has become far more visible over the last year and provides a basis for building parity of esteem with the NHS. We continue to call for long-term reform of adult social care, which we have been doing since long before the current crisis, and for government to urgently bring forward its proposals as soon as possible. This includes action on sustainable funding and workforce, so that people can live the lives they want to lead.  

Care support study 

Implementing effective support systems for people who are at risk of developing significant social care needs, but who are unlikely to meet the eligibility criteria for ongoing support packages, is a key challenge for councils. A team of researchers from the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at the London School of Economics, King’s College London and Ipsos MORI have been commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research to evaluate how best to support older people with moderate social care needs and their carers. The study will identify a small number of support “models” and examine their impact on short, medium and long-term costs and outcomes for people, their carers and the care and support system. For the study to be a success they need local authorities to volunteer to help to design the tools for the evaluation and check the methods make sense, test the methods in a pilot study and take part in the main study.  

The findings from the study are expected to inform national policy in the area. For more information about what volunteering for the various parts of the study involves please get in touch with Cpec-Msmop@lse.ac.uk or j.fernandez@lse.ac.uk. 

Children’s social care providers 

We have published a new report into the impact of increasing private equity and stock market involvement in the children’s social care system. The report, which was covered by the Guardian and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme (at 4mins 55secs and 1hr 7mins 18secs), finds that some of the largest independent providers of children’s residential and fostering placements are achieving profits of more than 20 per cent on their income, while four of the seven largest groups of independent providers had more debts and liabilities than tangible assets. The largest providers of children’s placements are growing rapidly and continuing to acquire other providers. We cannot risk a Southern Cross or Four Seasons situation in children’s social care and the potential risks involved in their considerable debt levels is an issue that the Government must consider in its independent review of children’s social care.  

It is therefore good that the Chair of the Review, Josh MacAlister, recently contacted the Competition and Markets Authority asking them to investigate the children’s social care ‘market’. This is a move which could provide important evidence around how homes are provided for children in care.  

Additional research we have also published identifies five key barriers to diversifying ownership of children’s homes. This includes negative stigma around children’s homes; financial risks; high barriers to entering the market; concerns around how to support children with complex needs; and limited coordination of commissioning around the country.  

Ofsted inspections 

Ofsted has announced that children’s social care focused visits will recommence from next month. It has set out its intention to serve notice during February, but not during the first week of the month. Given the national restrictions, inspectors will continue to fully consult with each director of children’s services about whether the visit is delivered remotely, onsite or a blend of the two approaches. 

Children’s mental health 

The Children’s Commissioner for England has published her fourth annual report on the state of children’s mental health services in England. Anne Longfield has warned that services are “nowhere near” able to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of children struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. In the year before the pandemic, referrals to children’s mental health services increased by 35 per cent while the number of children accessing treatment increased by just 4 per cent. Councils have a vital role in helping children have mentally healthy childhoods. As we said in our response, it is vital that effective and evidence-based mental health and wellbeing services and statutory mental health services for children can meet existing, new and unmet demand that has built up during the pandemic.  

As we look ahead to Children’s Mental Health Week beginning on Monday (1 Feb), we will be sharing some of the ways councils and partner organisations have been supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Many councils adapted their support in new and innovative ways during the pandemic, using online and face-to-face support. Your council can share your activities using the #CouncilsCan and #childrensmentalhealthweek campaign hashtags on social media. Your teams can also download animation to use in your social media. 

Generation Z  

New research from the Education Policy Institute and the Prince’s Trust has found that young girls experience lower levels of wellbeing and self-esteem by their early teens compared with boys. The research into the mental health of so-called Generation Z used data from approximately 5,000 young people in the Millennium Cohort Study, born around the year 2000, who were asked questions about their mental health, wellbeing and self-esteem at the ages of 11, 14 and 17. Coronavirus has seriously impacted the mental health and wellbeing of many children and young people and, in our response, we stressed the need for mental health to be at heart of a holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing, which includes access to parks and green spaces, meeting housing needs and providing learning and training opportunities.  

Men’s wellbeing  

The Samaritans has published a new handbook for community-based wellbeing groups targeting men. It provides a set of principles upon which wellbeing initiatives for men should be based to support people who commission, design and run groups so that they can better appeal to and engage men. Previous research by the charity has shown that it is crucial to reach men who are struggling early, to prevent them reaching a crisis point.  

'A Year in Our Lives’  

The Centre for Mental Health is keen to hear stories about the pandemic and learn how it has affected people's wellbeing. ‘A Year in Our Lives’ is a project about first-hand experiences of people living through the pandemic. The deadline for entries is March 31. 

School return 

It will not be possible for pupils to return to schools immediately after the February half-term, the Government has confirmed. If the target to vaccinate the first four priority groups by February 15 is met, the Prime Minister has said he hopes that the reopening of England’s schools can begin from March 8. Boris Johnson has confirmed that children eligible for food parcels or vouchers will receive these until they return to school and said a further £300 million will be spent on tutoring as part of a programme of catch-up over the next financial year. Specific initiatives for summer schools will also be developed. 

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) is keen to remind all state-maintained schools that they can access tutoring subsidised by 75 per cent through the National Tutoring Programme, to support pupils who need extra help. Schools can search for approved NTP Tuition Partners and enquire directly with providers. Online tutoring can be provided to pupils at home or in school during lockdown, and tutoring can also be booked for delivery when schools are fully reopened. This includes specialist provision for supporting students with SEND, including 17 providers who can support students in special school settings. 

SEND survey 

The Department for Education has published a guide for councils completing returns for the 2022 special educational needs or SEN2 survey. The guide includes information on main changes from the 2021 SEN2 survey, as well as notes on individual data items. The survey can be accessed here and the deadline for submitting data is February 11.  

Nursery fees   

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has urged councils to ensure free nursery places are genuinely free after a large chain was found to have wrongly charged parents top-up fees. Kiddi Caru nursery chain was found to have broken the rules on government-funded free places in Leicestershire. The LGO has called on councils to check their processes and oversight to ensure providers in their area are not doing the same. 

Planning consultation 

We have responded to the Government’s consultation Supporting housing delivery and public sector infrastructure. Proposals in the consultation would allow premises in the new Commercial, Business and Service use class (E use class) to be converted into residential use without planning permission, under a new permitted development right. The second proposal is to allow a faster planning application process for the extension of public service developments such as hospitals, schools, colleges and prisons. In our response, we said these proposals could undermine councils’ plans for the recovery from the pandemic. We reiterate that only a locally-led planning system in which councils and the communities they represent have a say over the way places develop will ensure the delivery of high-quality affordable homes with the necessary infrastructure communities need.  

Homelessness  

There were 68,680 households initially assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness, according to homelessness figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government yesterday for July to September 2020. This was a decrease of 7 per cent from the same period in 2019. Single males were the largest group given help for homelessness, making up 50.9 per cent of all households owed a relief duty. The number of households in temporary accommodation on 30 September 2020 was 93,490, up 7 per cent from the previous year. The figures reflect the efforts of councils to accommodate people sleeping rough since the Everyone In initiative at the start of the pandemic.  

Pet-friendly homes  

The Government has published a new Model Tenancy Agreement aimed at making it easier for tenants with pets to find rented accommodation. Currently only 7 per cent of private landlords advertise pet-friendly properties. Under the new agreement, landlords will no longer be able to issue blanket bans on pets. Consent for pets will instead become the default position, and landlords will be required to object in writing within 28 days of a written pet request from a tenant and provide a good reason.  

LGA Housing Advisers Programme 

This year’s 17 successful council applicants for the LGA’s Housing Advisers Programme have been announced. Each will be awarded up to £20,000 for the purpose of securing expert advice to drive forward locally led solutions to housing challenges. The Programme is a key part of the LGA’s sector-led improvement offer, and in the previous three years it has funded more than 100 projects across England, helping councils build homes, reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, plan for ageing populations, explore the potential of zero carbon housing, understand the student housing market, increase supply of modular housing and more.  

Leaseholder cladding costs 

Leaving leaseholders to carry the costs of repairing the thousands of buildings over 11 metres tall and with unsafe cladding is not only unfair, but risks collapsing the housing market, hampering any post-COVID-19 economic recovery and leaving a widespread sense of injustice and significant mental health consequences for years to come.  

We have published a policy paper calling for the building industry and the Government to take responsibility for the long-term systemic failure that caused this cladding crisis. It sets out how remediation of cladding systems can be completed in five years rather than the 20-plus years it will take given the current rate of progress. This can only be achieved if the Government funds the initial costs and the paper calls on ministers to establish a task force to take forward legal action against those responsible for the cladding crisis and/or commit to a levy on the relevant parts of the building industry in the next Budget on March 3. 

Scams 

The Government has developed resources, including posters and guides, to help councils with their ongoing efforts to communicate the importance of staying alert to vaccine fraud. We have been working to raise awareness of vaccine scams in the national media in recent weeks, including where scammers text people to offer appointments for vaccines in exchange for payment.     In the media this weekend, we will highlight reports of newly identified scams seeing a text message sent saying people have breached the Government’s lockdown rules and including a link where they can pay a fine; another falsely offering a payment from Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs to help support the individual during the national lockdown; and a third aiming to collect personal information including name, date of birth and bank details, in order to assist with a COVID-19 business grant application.  

COVID-19 fines 

A total of 42,675 fixed penalty notices have been handed out by police in England and Wales for breaches of COVID-19 laws since they came into force, new figures by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) show. Some 250 £10,000 fines have been handed to organisers of mass gatherings of more than 30 people, including illegal raves, parties and protests, in England, with two in Wales. 

Anti-social behaviour  

The Home Office has refreshed its guidance for frontline professionals on the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. It has strengthened the section on the community trigger, otherwise known as an anti-social behaviour case review. Please do take a moment to check that information about the community trigger can be found easily on your council website, and whether data is published annually, as the guidance recommends. Incidentally, the LGA held a webinar session this week on the community trigger process. You may find the presentations and transcript of the session of interest.  

Safer streets 

The Home Office (HO) has launched the prospectus for a second round of funding for the Safer Streets Fund 2021/22. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and local authorities can apply for funding for crime prevention plans in areas affected by high levels of neighbourhood crime, such as burglary and robbery. The LGA has worked closely with the HO to call for councils to be able to apply for this funding, so we are pleased this has been opened out to local authorities in the second round. The deadline for bids is March 25. For further information, please contact Rachel.Phelps@local.gov.uk  

Playgrounds and outdoor gyms 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has updated guidance for owners and operators of playgrounds and outdoor gyms. This sets out the key principles for the safe usage of them during the latest national restrictions, including measures to help facilitate social distancing, cleaning and hygiene.  

Border restrictions 

The Government has set out tougher measures to prevent the arrival of new strains of coronavirus into the UK, confirming plans for a 10-day quarantine in hotels or other government-provided accommodation for travellers from 30 high-risk countries, including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations. Passengers will be met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine. 

Electric vehicles  

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has commissioned the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) to produce an Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Guide for councils to offer guidance on the full process of installing EV infrastructure. The IET has produced a draft contents page but they are seeking views to help ensure it covers all the topics needed. Any feedback can be sent to olev.enquiries@olev.gov.uk by February 12.  

Bridges 

Some 3,105 council-owned bridges in Britain were substandard as of October 2020, according to data obtained by motoring research charity RAC Foundation. This is 50 more than during the previous year. Bridges are a vital part of our highways infrastructure that connect communities and business and councils are doing their best to ensure they are well maintained and withstand extreme weather. However, as we set out in our media response, this is becoming increasingly challenging in the face of a local roads repair backlog of nearly £10 billion.  

Waste management plan 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Waste Management Plan for England 2021. This focuses on waste production and how this can be managed. It also includes changes to waste management plan requirements, as well as an update on the Environment Bill and the recent consultations on recycling collections, extended producer responsibility and the deposit return scheme. 

Broadband affordability 

More than one in six households are struggling to afford broadband during the third lockdown according to a poll by Citizens Advice. According to the charity, only three of the largest 13 broadband providers have launched affordable tariffs for those on low-income benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that access to a good quality, affordable broadband connection is vital for our communities and it is very concerning that people are priced out of this. In our response, we have reinforced our call for a ‘social tariff’ to ensure a basic service is available at an affordable price to those most in need. 

Health Informatics Workshops 

Health Education England’s (HEE) ‘Connected Communities for Digital, Data, Information and technology in health and social care’ research was undertaken in 2020 to understand the networks and communities available to the informatics workforce. Health Informatics is the science of how health information is collected, used and analysed to support and promote people’s health and wellbeing. This work has now been completed, and HEE has developed a set of recommendations and actions to support the development of staff working in informatics, across health and social care. They are running a workshop, over a series of dates in February and March, to test these recommendations to understand how this work can support and develop our workforce better. 

Traineeships 

Employers can now apply for a £1,000 cash boost to help them take on new trainees. The scheme – available until July 31 - is designed to help support young people to gain the skills and experience they need and to help them get a job, an apprenticeship, or pursue further study.  

EU Settlement Scheme 

Many councils have raised concerns around the risk of those either remaining unaware and/or struggling to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) before the current deadline of June 30. We will continue to work with government on the potential impact of the scheme on local services and on local communities. It may be useful to know that the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADASS) has been awarded Home Office grant funding to raise awareness of the scheme. It wants to engage collaboratively with relevant organisations working with those with care and support needs, with an additional focus on the homeless and rough sleepers. For further information and to make any links with your local work, please contact Heather Booth, ADASS’s EUSS Programme Manager via heather.booth@adass.org.uk.  

COVID-19 cost tracker 

The National Audit Office (NAO) has today updated its COVID-19 cost tracker and launched a new interactive data tool summarising the Government’s estimated costs for its response to the pandemic so far. The aim of the tracker, which will be updated regularly, is to increase transparency and promote scrutiny and parliamentary accountability for government spending. 

Financial returns deadline tonight 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) financial impact survey return for December and January's data (round 9) is currently live and closes at 11pm tonight. These returns continue to be important in making the case for the financial impact of COVID-19 on local government. This week, MHCLG also published summary data from the survey collected in early December (round 8).  

The Government has also published the timetable for when local government finance forms need to be submitted. Last year, many deadlines were extended in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak, but they have now gone back to the pre-pandemic timelines. Please let us know if you have any issues you would like us to raise about this on your behalf by emailing lgfinance@local.gov.uk  

Parliament 

On Thursday, the House of Lords discussed the Economic Affairs Committee’s report on adult social care funding. It was good to hear Peers highlight points made by the LGA, particularly the urgent need for Government to provide a long-term road map to reform adult social care. Speaking in the debate LGA Vice-President Baroness Eaton said the legacy of COVID-19 for social care must be a reset, not simply a restart. Baroness Eaton also said government should commit to a new deal for the care workforce, comprising action on pay, development and progression. Summing up the debate, Health Minister Lord Bethell confirmed the Government’s intention to bring forward proposals on adult social care reform this year. 

This week also saw the Commons Science and Technology Committee hear evidence on the role of local authorities in test, trace and isolate efforts. Dr Richard Harling, director of health and care at Staffordshire County Council and Greg Fell, director of public health at Sheffield City Council, both briefed MPs on a range of issues, including the ongoing success of local contact tracing local efforts to complement the national system.  

Separately, NHS England Chief Executive, Sir Simon Stevens also appeared before the Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committees as part of a joint inquiry into lessons learnt from the pandemic. Sir Simon spoke about engagement with local communities and working with councils to increase uptake of the vaccine.  

The Parliamentary business for the coming weeks has confirmed that the motion relating to the final Local Government Finance Settlement is scheduled to be debated on Wednesday 10 February. This is the point at which Parliament will, subject to the agreement of MPs, formally approve the settlement. We are awaiting the publication of the final settlement and have been working closely with MHCLG to highlight the issues raised in our response to the provisional settlement on behalf of you all. We will update you further when we hear more.  

Webinars 

We have several webinars planned which I wanted to highlight to you:  

• National construction virtual conference - Part I Tuesday 2 February, 10.30am - 12.30pm    A chance to look at the Government’s Green Paper on procurement and what this will mean for construction procurement professionals after the UK’s exit from the European Union, as well as modern slavery in the supply chain.     
• National construction virtual conference - Part II Thursday 4 February, 10.30am - 12.00pm    This webinar will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry and the role and responsibilities of the construction industry and the part procurement plays in tackling the issues faced by the climate emergency.     
• COVID-19 response and recovery for licensed premises Monday 8 February, 10.30am – 12.00pm    This session will reflect on the challenges the hospitality sector has faced over the past year. Cheltenham Borough Council and Lancaster City Council will share their experiences of how they have supported businesses through the pandemic.    
• Digital solutions to the climate crisis Tuesday 9 February, 2.30pm – 4.00pm    Councils are looking to a variety of tools and methodologies to combat climate change. This webinar will examine how digital technologies can help local authorities to deliver their climate action plans  
• Gambling regulation and reducing gambling related harm Wednesday 10 February, 2.00pm – 3.30pm    The LGA’s annual licensing conference provides an opportunity to reflect on events over the last year and discuss key strategic and practical developments that can be expected to affect councils’ licensing committees and teams over the next year.   
• Remote Working: A path to an adaptable economy  Wednesday 17 Feburary, 10.00am –00pm    The LGA will be hosting a virtual roundtable discussion on remote working facilitated by David Fletcher, Director of City Development and Growth at Derby City Council. It will discuss the consequences of remote working for councils and businesses as well as the relationship between the two and wider communities. Your officers working on economic growth and development may find it useful. Spaces are limited, so please email productivity@local.gov.uk to register interest.     

I hope this end of the week update has been useful. As always, do continue to liaise with your Principal Adviser if there is anything further we can do to support your councils in anyway. 

Best wishes Councillor James Jamieson Chairman, Local Government Association @JGJamieson