Gwynedd Council has launched a consultation on whether it should increase council tax on properties which are not the sole property owned by the owner.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised safety concerns about two thirds of A&E units in England, claiming the drop in standards is partly due to underfunding of council care services, leading to overcrowding in hospitals.

The Resolution Foundation has predicted a weak pay growth following the UK’s vote to leave the EU which could rescued the increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) by 10p.
The NLW, which was introduced in April, currently stands at £7.20 per hour for workers aged 25 and over.
The think tank now expects the NLW to rise to £7.50 per hour in 2017.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a report signalling its support to countries which place a ‘sugar tax’ on food substances.

Wrexham Council has approved a five-year strategy to promote the use of the Welsh language across the region.

Liverpool City Council has received criticism for approving plans for a student block tower.

The Prison Governors Association (PGA) has called on the government to set up an independent public inquiry into the state of prisons in England and Wales.

Manchester is set to be over-run with giant coffee cup bins as environment charity Hubbub launches its recycling awareness campaign.

159 councils will join the next phase of the One Public Estate programme, the Cabinet Office and the LGA has announced.

Local authorities could save £300 million each year in litter clean up costs, says a new report.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has examined how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) could be used to fund the cost of cleaning up litter.
‘The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility in Tackling Litter in the UK’ considers the merits of the manufacturers of cigarettes, chewing gum and fast food contributing to the multi-million pound clean-up costs associated with the littering of their products.