Local authorities say limited budgets and slow access to government funding are the biggest barriers to installing public electric vehicle (EV) charge points, according to a new survey by charge point operator (CPO) Believ.
The research, based on responses from 101 local authorities across England, Wales and Scotland, found that 75 per cent cite pressure on council budgets as their main obstacle to expanding public EV charging.

Newly released figures show that recycling has increased again in Wales.
The recycling rate has gone up from 66.6 per cent in 2023-24 to 68.4 per cent in 2024-25.
This data is the first published since new workplace recycling measures were introduced in Wales. These rules require all businesses, public and third sector workplaces and collectors to keep key recyclable materials separate.

Over 300,000 children are set to benefit from Best Start free breakfast clubs in April, while schools already enrolled on the programme have served up 7 million meals to date.
The Department for Education has opened applications for 1,500 schools to sign up for its Best Start free breakfast clubs in September.
Backed by £80 million targeting the most disadvantaged areas, the scheme builds on the government’s decisions to prioritise investment to help families with the cost of living.

Since April last year, more than 200,000 potholes on more than 400 miles of road surfacing have been fixed or prevented in Wales.
A local government borrowing initiative from the Welsh Government has enabled local councils to fix or prevent around 171,000 potholes across 324 miles of local roads in Wales. Meanwhile, on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) more than 30,000 potholes have been fixed or prevented on more than 65 miles of road.
1,011 local and 24 trunk road resurfacing schemes have been completed across the country to date.

The government has announced £150 million to restore community pride in high streets across the country.
The money will be targeted at the areas that have been hardest hit in recent year.
It is hoped the cash injection will restore a sense of pride people feel in their high streets and local area.
More details on the High Street Strategy, including how the funding will be allocated will be published in due course.

The government has confirmed that the Warm Home Discount will be continued through to 2030/31. 
Eligible households will get a £150 rebate on energy bills every winter until 2030/31.
The announcement follows the government’s expansion of the Warm Home Discount last year, adding 2.7 million families to the scheme and bringing the total number of eligible households to around 6 million.
Last week, the government announced the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan.