The Welsh Government has signed an agreement with 22 local councils in a bid to strengthen the relationship between national and local government.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Welsh Government and Local Government in Wales pledges joint working and a commitment to tackling shared challenges.
It creates a framework for national and local government to work more effectively together and cut unnecessary bureaucracy, whilst still respecting each other's democratic roles.

From 2027, more than 7,000 businesses will have their energy bills reduced by up to 25 per cent from 2027, as part of the government’s new Industrial Strategy.

The government has announced £900 million of investment for major sporting events and grassroots sport across the country.
£500 million will be committed to supporting the delivery of world class sporting events being held in the UK over the next few years, including the men’s and women’s Tour de France Grand Départs in 2027; the Men’s UEFA EURO 2028 and the European Athletics Championships 2026 in Birmingham.
EURO 2028 is expected to deliver up to £2.4 billion in socio-economic value across the UK.

The government has announced that it is updating the national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for the first time in a decade in a bid to tackle water pollution and protect communities from flooding.
The new standards will give developers clearer guidance on how to create rainwater management systems that mimic the natural environment and deliver better outcomes.

New changes will come into force next month which will end the local connection rules for young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse to access social housing. 
Young people leaving care and domestic abuse survivors will now have better access to social housing, as they will become exempt from rules that restrict access to social housing for those that do not have a connection to the local area.
The change will apply to all councils in England, nearly 90 per cent of which currently use local connection criteria to determine who qualifies for social housing.

The government has announced that it will invest water company fines into local projects across the country to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
Over £100m in fines and penalties collected from water companies since October 2023, as well as future fines and penalties will be reinvested.
Secretary of State Steve Reed said: "We inherited a broken water system with record levels of sewage being pumped into waters.

The Data (Use and Access) Bill has become law, with promises to cut public sector bureaucracy and boost efficiency.
By cutting NHS and police bureaucracy, speeding up roadworks, and turbocharging innovation in tech and science, the new data regime is set to pump £10 billion into the British economy over the next decade.

The government has published a 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, designed to address the maintenance backlog in schools, colleges, hospitals and courts.
The strategy sets out a long-term plan or how the government will invest in infrastructure and ensure that funding is spent effectively and efficiently.
It is hoped that the plans will encourage inward investment by providing a long-term vision that gives investors the confidence and certainty they need to commit funding to projects, creating job opportunities and boosting living standards for people across the country.

The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has been introduced to parliament.
The Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.
This additional protection is designed give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends.

The government has announced more than £1 million in funding for 52 councils across the UK to clean up chewing gum stains.
Councils including those in Glasgow, Fermanagh and Omagh, Bradford and Cardiff are set to receive a share if £1.2 million from the fourth round of funding from the Chewing Gum Taskforce.