Agenda item

The Chairman invited Mike Heiser, Senior Adviser, to present the report which provided a summary of the work by the LGA on funding and finance issues since the previous meeting.

Members made the following comments:

• It was queried whether there was progress on the government’s recent pledge to allow Ukrainian refugees on the family visa scheme to move to the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme which would prevent them from presenting as homeless to local authorities.
• It was raised that  Afghan refugees were continuing to live in hotels.
• Delivering the council tax energy rebate had been a big administrative challenge.
• The possibility of exploring a council tax revaluation.

In response, officers made the following comments:

• The LGA had taken the government’s promise as confirmation and continue to lobby for funding to support it.
• Conversations about Afghan refugees in hotels continued to be raised as a concern with government.
• There was currently no formal LGA line on council tax revaluation however this was something that could be explored by the Board.
• A welcome letter covering various issues faced by local government including those raised by Members had been written to the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

Decision:

Members noted the update