Joanna Killian has started her new role has chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA).
She previously served for six years as CEO of Surrey County Council.
In a letter to chief executives on her first day, she said: “I know that many of your residents and communities are under intense pressure, and your organisations, in partnership with others, are crucial in supporting their health, wellbeing and happiness.

Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change has appointed Professor Paul Lewis as the new Independent Chair of the Clean Air Advisory Panel (CAAP).
The panel provides evidence-based advice and recommendations to the Welsh Government on air quality matters in Wales, which is used to underpin the decision making of Welsh Ministers.
The panel informs Welsh Government’s understanding of airborne pollution in Wales, and therefore supports the development of policies to drive improvements in air quality in Wales.

Bassetlaw is to receive £20 million of funding from the wider £400 million Levelling Up Partnerships in England.
The money will be spent on regenerating local towns, tackling anti-social behaviour and refurbishing cherished community centres.
It will also be used to improve the area’s educational and health services through new and improved facilities for the community to use.
Money from Levelling Up Partnerships in England, with the funding going to the 20 areas most in need for levelling up.

Secretary of state for energy security Claire Coutinho has announced the award of over £75 million from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to offer free upgrades to tenants’ homes.
The money can be spent on upgrades such as insulation, double glazing and the installation of heat pumps.
Funding will be made available to 42 councils and housing associations across England to install energy saving measures in social homes, while at the same time, supporting 1,300 jobs in the UK’s retrofit industry.

Defence minister James Heappey has announced he will step down at the General Election.
In his resignation letter, Heappey said that he wanted to prioritise his family and pursue a different career.
Heappey previously served in the Army and was elected as MP for the Wells Constituency in May 2015.
He was James was appointed Minister for Defence Procurement on 16 December 2019, having previously served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.

The government has announced a £20 million boost in funding for adult social care.

Changes have been made to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which are intended to make heat pumps cheaper and easier for families to install.
The scheme offers grants of £7,500 off the cost of heat pump installation.
Homeowners are set to have more choice over how they improve their home and will no longer have to install cavity wall or loft insulation to use the scheme.
It is hoped that removing these recommendations could reduce the costs associated with installing a heat pump on a semi-detached property by around £2,500.

Welsh deputy climate change minister has announced £39 million of funding for the bus industry in Wales for the next year.
Lee Waters said the money will be provided through a new 'Bus Network Grant'.
The Grant will be made available to local authorities to secure services once the Welsh Government’s Bus Transition Fund comes to an end on 31 March.
The new Bus Network Grant will begin on April 1 and run for 12 months.