Tag: News Story

STORY

A cross-party committee of MPs has said physical activity should be treated as seriously as medication in NHS care for older people. The Health and Social Care Committee warned that deteriorating leisure facilities and the lack of a coherent national strategy were limiting opportunities to embed physical activity in community-based care.

The committee said partnerships between health services, leisure providers and community groups can support long-term condition management, improve wellbeing and reduce pressure on hospitals. It welcomed the Government’s £400m announcement for grassroots sports facilities but said the money must be used strategically.

Committee chair Layla Moran said promoting active lifestyles among older people would support two policy objectives at once: shifting the NHS towards prevention and bringing services closer to home. The findings are likely to be relevant to councils because local authorities are central to leisure provision, public health and community services.

STORY

Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have completed a major air quality monitoring project intended to protect internationally important heathland habitats from traffic pollution. The project examined pollution levels at heathland sites close to busy roads across the county.

Between August 2025 and January 2026, 15 trained volunteers collected monthly air samples at 14 heathland sites. Laboratory analysis measured nitrogen dioxide and ammonia, with ammonia levels exceeding thresholds known to harm lichens and mosses at every site monitored.

The councils said the data has been used to categorise heathland sites by risk level, with mitigation work under way at Avon Heath, Upton Heath and Matchams View. The findings will also be used to assess the air quality impact of new developments in the area.

STORY

The Government has announced plans to curb profiteering by private companies providing children’s social care services to councils. Ministers have legislated to introduce and enforce a statutory profit cap if market monitoring shows it is needed, as part of reforms aimed at changing what they describe as a broken placements system.

The changes include expanding fostering provision, supporting families earlier and reducing reliance on residential care. The Local Government Association said councils share the Government’s ambition to ensure vulnerable children receive the care and support they need while tackling excessive profits in parts of the children’s placement market.

The wider announcement forms part of the Government’s Neighbourhood Guarantee, which includes new powers for councils over high streets, empty properties and local service design. Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the measures were intended to show respect for the places people call home and give local people clearer standards to expect.

STORY

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed (in photo) has warned that councils could face sanctions if they fail to meet new service standards under the Government’s Neighbourhood Guarantee. The package is intended to set clearer expectations for local services including clean streets, filled potholes and reliable public services.

The Local Government Association said councils had long called for action on the cost pressures in children’s social care and for greater powers to shape thriving local communities. It said meaningful devolution must be supported by sufficient and sustainable funding for councils if local leaders are to deliver improvements residents expect.

The Government said the Neighbourhood Guarantee is designed to improve villages, towns and cities by giving communities clearer standards and stronger powers. The LGA said it would work with ministers to secure the additional funding needed, arguing that councils know their areas best and need the resources to act.

STORY

An employment tribunal has found that refusing home working arrangements to an employee with agoraphobia can amount to disability discrimination, in a ruling with implications for councils. The case involved Marina Dudding, a former Gravesham Borough Council employee who asked to work two days a week from home because of agoraphobia, anxiety and depression.

Dudding brought legal action against the council after she was dismissed following sickness absence and disciplinary action. The London South Employment Tribunal upheld claims of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, finding that her conditions substantially affected daily activities and that the council had failed in its obligations.

A Gravesham Borough Council spokesman said the authority accepted the tribunal’s findings, while saying there were nuances to the case which were not reflected in the ruling. The council said isolated cases could occur in an organisation of its size where working relationships broke down or performance concerns needed to be addressed.

STORY

Devon County Council is calling for more volunteers to join its community road warden scheme as the initiative marks ten years since it was rolled out across the county. The scheme supports volunteers to carry out minor local highways work including weed clearance, grass cutting, sign cleaning and small drainage work.

Volunteer road wardens can also request training to carry out small pothole repairs, with materials paid for by Devon County Council. Around 140 towns and parishes across Devon are already involved in the scheme, which the council says helps local communities deal with priority maintenance issues.

Cabinet member for highways Dan Thomas said Devon’s 8,000-mile road network was the largest of any authority in the country. He said road wardens do not replace the council’s highways teams, which continue to repair potholes classed as safety defects.

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Reform-controlled Kent County Council has voted to introduce the Lord’s Prayer and the national anthem into its council meetings. LocalGov reported that 48 councillors voted to open meetings with a prayer, while 46 voted in favour of closing them with the anthem.

Council leader Linden Kemkaran said the prayer would help unite the country in a common identity. Green councillor Rob Yates criticised the change, reportedly describing it as a “ridiculous farce” and saying he was not paid by taxpayers to sing songs and pray.

In a separate decision, the council approved changes reducing the total time allocated for opposition leaders to respond to speeches at full council meetings from 22 minutes to 17 minutes. Opposition parties criticised the decision, citing the absence of public consultation.

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Five people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud following allegations of electoral fraud connected with last month’s local elections in Tameside. Greater Manchester Police said four men and a woman, aged between 23 and 47, were arrested at addresses in Tameside on 21 May after concerns were raised about candidates in St Peter’s ward.

The investigation follows claims that individuals had been encouraged to stand as independent candidates in the ward in order to split opposition votes. Police said the inquiry is focused on how candidates were put forward and represented, and whether the process complied with electoral law and procedures.

Tameside Council said it placed great importance on protecting the integrity of elections and was working closely with the police and other relevant authorities. Greater Manchester Police said it was also working with the Electoral Commission while enquiries continue.

STORY

The Government has announced a £1bn package for PE and school sport, saying the funding is intended to reduce inequality in children’s access to physical activity. Ministers said the programme would provide targeted support for schools and pupils who currently face barriers to participation.

The Department for Education said the funding would support new opportunities for children and help improve physical fitness, wellbeing and attendance. The announcement comes amid wider Government concern about children’s health, mental wellbeing and regional disparities in access to sport and enrichment activities.

Ministers said the package formed part of efforts to end what they described as a fitness postcode lottery. Schools and sporting bodies are expected to play a central role in delivering the programme, with the Government arguing that sport can support wider educational and social outcomes.

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Adrian Bird has been appointed as the new head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation and Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee. The Cabinet Secretary made the appointment with the approval of the Prime Minister, placing Bird in one of the most senior intelligence assessment roles in Government.

The Joint Intelligence Organisation supports ministers and senior officials by coordinating intelligence assessment across Government. The Joint Intelligence Committee provides strategic assessments on national security, foreign

policy and other major international issues.

The appointment comes at a period of heightened security challenges, including the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, cyber threats and the use of new technologies by hostile states. The role is central to how intelligence is assessed and presented to ministers when making national security decisions.