Q&As

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These Q&As seek to address briefly common questions faced when dealing with Local Government matters.

The Q&As supplement and link to other more detailed content within Lexis+® UK, but are intentionally short. It is anticipated that a brief Q&A will be most helpful when you need a quick overview of an issue and its likely impact. This might arise, for example, for lawyers needing to provide advice or training at short notice. The Q&A content on Lexis+® UK is date stamped. This date is the publish date and states the law

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Latest Local Government News

MHCLG announces new funding and standards to boost social and affordable housing

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a new social and affordable housing package. The package introduces new funding and financial flexibilities for councils, housing associations and other providers to accelerate social and affordable housebuilding. It also sets out upgraded standards to tackle damp, mould and poor insulation and to reduce the cost of living, including energy bills, for tenants. The announcement comes ahead of bidding opening in February 2026 for the £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which is expected to deliver around 300,000 social and affordable homes over its lifetime, with at least 60% for social rent. The measures include a new Decent Homes Standard, updating standards for the first time in 20 years, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, reforms to Section 106 agreements and changes to the Housing Revenue Account threshold to allow councils to build up to 1,000 new homes without opening a new account, with the aim of reducing the number of families in temporary accommodation and on housing waiting lists.

Solace publishes guide for managing political transition into a new administration

The Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace) has published guidance to assist chief executives and senior officers prepare for and manage political transitions following local elections. The guide outlines steps such as reviewing governance arrangements ahead of elections, preparing briefing and induction materials, enabling early engagement with incoming political leaders and supporting constructive relationship between officers and elected members throughout the transition. The guide should be read alongside relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and professional codes.

MHCLG approves Thurrock Council chief executive recruitment following commissioners' sixth report

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has approved Thurrock Council’s request to initiate the recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive, as confirmed by the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, in her published response to the Thurrock Commissioners’ sixth report. The Minister acknowledged the Commissioners’ assessment that the Council has made continued progress, citing improvements in financial management, transparency, external scrutiny and public engagement, alongside a smooth transition to new leadership and ongoing steps to reduce its significant and exceptional unsupported debt, for which the government remains committed to providing repayment support. She also highlighted risks to sustained improvement arising from organisational capacity pressures linked to the Council’s transformation programme and wider local government reorganisation and devolution, and emphasised the need to maintain focus and pace. Approval for the Chief Executive recruitment is conditional on the appointment of a suitably experienced candidate and on continued Commissioner support and oversight, with the Minister indicating that the current Commissioner model will be reviewed following any appointment to ensure an orderly transition and sufficient capacity to maintain the Council’s improvement trajectory and provide assurance to government .

DCMS launches consultation on proposed Gambling Commission fee changes

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to Gambling Commission fees, with implementation scheduled for 1 October 2026. The consultation outlines three options for increasing operating licence fee levels. These increases will determine the extent to which the Gambling Commission can recover its costs and effectively exercise its functions. Informed by advice and data supplied by the Gambling Commission, the consultation seeks to clarify the priorities for allocating its resources. The consultation will close on 29 March 2026.

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