13 Jul 2026
The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged the Government and the Casey Commission to ensure councils remain at the heart of future adult social care reform, arguing that lasting change must be nationally supported but locally led.
In a new report, Care Where We Live, the LGA says there is strong consensus across the sector for a system that is person-centred, preventative and rooted in local communities. It argues that successful reform should be judged by whether people are able to live independent, dignified lives, supported by services that reflect local needs.
Among its recommendations are calls for a sustainable national funding settlement, greater investment in prevention, housing and support for unpaid carers, stronger public understanding of adult social care, and a clearer balance of responsibilities between national and local government. The report also questions the long-term reliance on council tax as a funding mechanism for adult social care.
The LGA says councils’ local knowledge, democratic accountability and convening role will be essential if reforms are to deliver lasting improvements for people and communities.
