LGA to lead public health improvement programme for councils

A three-year, local authority public health improvement and support programme is to be led by the Local Government Association (LGA).

Louise Gittens (c) The Local Government Association

Louise Gittens (c) The Local Government Association

Funded by the DHSC, the programme will see the LGA work with councils in England from June 2026 to support local public health teams to deliver better health outcomes for their communities and will include public health peer reviews. 

Cllr Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association, said: ‘We are pleased to be leading the public health improvement and support programme helping councils to continuously improve their services. It will give councils the space, support and insight they need to celebrate what's working, tackle what's getting in the way, and accelerate progress for their communities. 

‘The LGA's councillor and officer peers are at the heart of the LGA's sector support offers and continue to provide highly valued, expert support. It's about learning together, improving together and unlocking the full potential of local public health.  

‘Given the central role of councils to its ambitions, we look forward to working with the Government through this programme and more widely to deliver the 10-year Health Plan for England.'

The programme aims to maximise public health benefits from wider local authority spending and the Local Authority Public Health Grant. 

It will seek to help ensure councils are better supported to deliver on their statutory duties and public health outcome priorities, including those set out in the Local Outcomes Framework.  

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