This publication has been developed by the LGA for elected members as overarching guidance to help clarify the current public health grant conditions and mandated public health functions in local government. It has been updated to reflect the 2026/27 public health grant settlement, the consolidation of drug, alcohol and smoking cessation funding streams, the Government's 10 Year Health Plan and Neighbourhood Health Framework, and the NHS restructuring programme under way. It will be updated as the policy landscape continues to evolve.
The following summary sets out a new programme of sector led improvement support for adult social care and public health services available to councils in 2026/27.
Providing local and combined authorities in England with vital tools and support to deliver critical services to communities, while helping to drive change and improvement across all regions.
This guide is intended to help provide some structure to your first few days in office, and to cut through some of the initial ‘noise’, so that you can focus on what’s important straight away, and what you need to be thinking about going forward.
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) has never had a more central role in English health and care. The policy changes of 2025 and 2026 have created a formal requirement for JSNA evidence to inform NHS commissioning decisions at the neighbourhood level. This toolkit will help Health and Wellbeing Boards lead a new generation of JSNA in the context of neighbourhood health.
Building on our 'A force for growth' report, this good practice guide commissioned by the LGA and produced by Henham Strategy, provides an investor perspective and practical advice for councils on the steps they can take to attract investment and better realise their role in delivering inclusive growth
