http://www.lgcplus.com/RSS/Families_RSS.xml en-uk Wolverhampton's Raising Enjoyment & Achievement (REACH) scheme is tackling underperformance in 14-16 year olds. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/enjoyable_learning.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/enjoyable_learning.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Kathy Oxtoby 22 August 2008 10:09 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-design_resized_150_tcm16-1805900.jpg Councils across England and Wales have been urged to sign up to a campaign for a national home insulation programme. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/lga_call_to_back_insulation_campaign.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/lga_call_to_back_insulation_campaign.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF David Blackman 20 August 2008 08:46 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/lga_logo_resized_70_tcm16-1677012.jpg Councils should be developing strategies to protect older people against climate change, according to new research. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/call_to_protect_elderly_from_climate_change.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/call_to_protect_elderly_from_climate_change.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Louise Hunt 19 August 2008 13:21 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/oldwalkingstick_resized_70_tcm16-1744088.jpg Social services will have to step in more often over the welfare of dangerously overweight children if Britain's obesity epidemic continues to grow, council leaders have warned. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/care_warning_over_child_obesity.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/care_warning_over_child_obesity.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Robin Latchem 18 August 2008 10:03 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-obesity_resized_70_tcm16-1800343.jpg A rise in the number of homes being repossessed has prompted fresh concerns about council housing waiting lists. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/house_repossessions_jump.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/house_repossessions_jump.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF David Blackman 15 August 2008 14:10 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/housing%20(nice)_resized_70_tcm16-459638.jpg Points-based self-assessment should replace the current system of social care rationing, a sector leader has demanded. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/social_care_selfassessment_backed.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/social_care_selfassessment_backed.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Jim Dunton 14 August 2008 08:20 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/done_wheelchair_resized_70_tcm16-1790009.jpg Anger over the debacle surrounding this summer's SATs results should be a rallying cry for councils, according to one lead member for schools. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/call_to_arms_over_sats_tests.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/call_to_arms_over_sats_tests.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF 12 August 2008 15:47 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/child%20writing_resized_70_tcm16-120152.jpg Mansfield DC is set to name a swimming complex after Britain's first Olympic gold medal swimmer in 48 years. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/mayor_praises_swimmings_golden_girl.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/mayor_praises_swimmings_golden_girl.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Robin Latchem 12 August 2008 08:41 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-adlingtonhighres_resized_150_tcm16-1795981.jpg A council has been forced to give a householder a second wheelie bin, following a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/council_relents_over_second_bin.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/council_relents_over_second_bin.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF James Illman 11 August 2008 14:18 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/croppedwheelie-bins_resized_70_tcm16-1795355.jpg Northamptonshire CC is searching for places for a clutch of elderly people after their care home had its licence withdrawn. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/care_home_licence_revoked.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/care_home_licence_revoked.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Simon Ellery 07 August 2008 11:04 Drug related deaths in Scotland have jumped 8% to record levels. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scottish_drug_deaths_jump.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scottish_drug_deaths_jump.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Simon Ellery 07 August 2008 12:11 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/drugs-syringe_resized_70_tcm16-822255.jpg More than one million leaflets are being sent out by the Local Government Association to help elderly people and their relatives get the best and most affordable care. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/new_lga_leaflet_on_elderly_care.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/new_lga_leaflet_on_elderly_care.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Robin Latchem 05 August 2008 13:11 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/done_wheelchair_resized_70_tcm16-1790009.jpg The cultural and social needs of people in ethnic minorities should be addressed on a more personal level, according to the Commission for Social Care Inspection. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/csci_caution_over_minority_needs.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/csci_caution_over_minority_needs.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Robin Latchem 05 August 2008 11:12 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/denise_platt_resized_70_tcm16-844222.jpg New research showing that children face restricted opportunities for adventurous play has prompted calls for councils to build better play areas. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/childrens_play_curbed.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/childrens_play_curbed.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Simon Ellery 04 August 2008 15:18 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/forest_resized_70_tcm16-911259.jpg More investment in health visitors and a new role for maternity nurses to help poor families are being promised by the Conservatives if they win the next general election. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/tory_pledge_for_poor_families.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/tory_pledge_for_poor_families.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF 04 August 2008 14:36 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/baby%27s%20legs_resized_70_tcm16-755389.jpg More local authority services should be involved in the programme to renew or rebuild every secondary school in England, according to business bosses. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/cbi_boost_councils_links_to_schools.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/cbi_boost_councils_links_to_schools.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Robin Latchem 28 July 2008 12:58 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/School%20children_resized_70_tcm16-159837.jpg The capital's care system will struggle to meet the needs of its elderly population in the future, the government has warned. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/londons_care_system_unsustainable.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/londons_care_system_unsustainable.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Simon Ellery 24 July 2008 11:02 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/oldwalkingstick_resized_70_tcm16-1744088.jpg Moves to strengthen councils’ involvement with young offenders could deliver better results for young people in custody but will be an administrative ‘nightmare’, according to a leading children’s sector figure. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/young_offenders_role_strengthened.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/young_offenders_role_strengthened.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Jim Dunton 23 July 2008 15:04 Local authorities are set to gain more powers to tackle long-term unemployment in an overhaul of the welfare state. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/push_on_worklessness_to_be_solved_locally.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/push_on_worklessness_to_be_solved_locally.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF 23 July 2008 09:58 Funding for older people’s care should be transferred from NHS budgets into local area agreement-based grants, MPs have concluded. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/mps_call_for_councils_to_lead_pcts_on_care.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/mps_call_for_councils_to_lead_pcts_on_care.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Jim Dunton 22 July 2008 17:10 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Old%20person%20care%20home_resized_70_tcm16-809119.jpg The Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan has revealed plans to impose flat rate charges for non-residential social care. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/wales_moots_standard_care_cost.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/wales_moots_standard_care_cost.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF 23 July 2008 15:18 Housing minister Iain Wright has introduced an amendment to new housing rules to allow Community Land Trusts (CLT). http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/last_minute_push_for_housing_trusts.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/last_minute_push_for_housing_trusts.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Simon Ellery 21 July 2008 15:01 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Construction%20crane_resized_70_tcm16-159259.jpg The government has launched a consultation into how councils should be rewarded for meeting the targets in their local area agreements (LAAs). http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/cash_incentive_to_hit_local_targets.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/cash_incentive_to_hit_local_targets.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF James Illman 21 July 2008 11:05 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/neets_resized_70_tcm16-705454.jpg Hackney LBC has launched a radical review of its social services, following a report into the tragic murder of two children by their mentally-ill mother. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/hackney_radical_review_of_social_services.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/hackney_radical_review_of_social_services.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF Simon Ellery 17 July 2008 10:46 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/article-1035879-01FB1FA100000578-33_468x482_popup_resized_70_tcm16-1734902.jpg Councils have been urged to mount campaigns to help residents and staff claim benefits in a bid to reduce child poverty. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/improve_benefit_takeup_rates.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/improve_benefit_takeup_rates.html;jsessionid=C8AAF5533BFA08BB3C437C178242F0AF 16 July 2008 14:54