Martin Wrigley

The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn. We will communicate the outcome in due course.

On the 24 September in New York, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK had endorsed the Bridge to Busan declaration to support greater ambition on addressing unsustainable levels of primary plastic production in the negotiations for a new treaty to end plastic pollution. Further information, including the full list of signatories to the Bridge to Busan declaration can be found at the following address: https://www.bridgetobusan.com.

The Government has emphasised its commitment to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, handing power to those with local knowledge and who are incentivised to drive progress forward. The devolution agreement for Devon and Torbay represents an important first step for this area to see initial benefits from devolution in the short term as part of our drive to shift power away from Westminster.

These benefits include funding to drive place-based economic regeneration, increased local control over transport functions and devolution of the adult education budget. We encourage the authorities to continue working together and with their neighbours to explore the next steps towards deeper and wider devolution for their area, and stand ready to work with the area and consider any proposals they want to put forward.

Existing combined county authority legislation provides that only upper tier local authorities in the area of a combined county authority can be constituent members. District councils are an important part of local government, and as non-constituent members, can play an active role in any combined county authority in their area, should they wish.

It is important that all local authorities are engaged and actively involved in improving their areas, working across all levels of government for the interests of the local community.