More than 5,000 new homes in flood-risk areas of England have been granted planning permission so far this year.

The Local Government Association has announced the nine successful councils in its new Digital Pathfinders Programme.
The LGA, who represent councils in England and Wales, designed a programme to support councils seeking to innovate and develop pioneering initiatives to advance digital inclusion, digital connectivity, and cyber security. It will also help councils whose work will offer a positive example to others in the sector, through sustainable change programmes.
In total, 75 councils in England were shortlisted through a competitive bidding process.

New homes and buildings, as well as those undergoing major renovation, will be required to install electric vehicle charge points from next year.

The number of vulnerable children being placed in council care could reach almost 100,000 by the middle of the decade.

The government has launched a £7 million fund to help people access more volunteering opportunities across a range of sectors.

Single-use plastic plates, cutlery, expanded and extruded polystyrene cups and food and beverage containers could all be phased out.

The CCN is urging the government to show the ‘highest level of ambition’ for devolution and levelling up in county and rural areas.

Shelter has warned that a failure to include social housing in the government’s upcoming ‘levelling up’ plan may escalate the housing emergency.

More than a million vulnerable children in England have had their life chances reduced by cuts to early years and youth support since 2010.

Hundreds of arts, heritage and cultural organisations across England will receive a share of £107 million from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.