Local government across England have reacted to the Queen’s Speech setting out the government’s legislative agenda for the year ahead.
Policies in the speech that will directly affect councils, include laws to modernise the planning system through the Planning Bill, while the Building Safety Bill will set up a new building safety regulator to ensure that tragedies of the past are never repeated.
Also, legislation will set binding environmental targets through the Environment Bill and it was announced that proposals on social care reform will be brought forward.
Commenting, Local Government Association (LGA) Chairman, Councillor James Jamieson said:
“Councils know their local areas best and stand ready to help lead efforts to ensure the new legislative agenda set out in today’s Queen’s Speech, including around planning, jobs, health and care reform, environment, climate change and building safety, is transformational and delivers meaningful, positive change for people and communities.
“We are pleased that proposals on social care reform will be brought forward, but we urgently need a clear timeline.
“It is vital that this is also urgently converted into concrete funding proposals to provide sustainable support to people of all ages across the country who draw on social care to live the life they want to lead.
“We are keen to work with the government and other stakeholders on a cross-party basis to achieve this. We cannot keep kicking this can down the road.
“The LGA and councils look forward to working closely with the government to help deliver on its commitment to level up powers and invest in local areas across all parts of the country.
“With the right funding and freedoms, councils will play a leading role in the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
"Driving improvements in public health, boosting local economic growth, reviving town and city centres, building more homes, improving our roads and equipping people with the skills they need to succeed so no one is left behind.”
