*Weekly roundup: *Poor boroughs bear the brunt of government cuts and Council of Europe says UK benefit level is 'inadequate'
*Is there an inactivity pandemic?*
Local authorities have been urged to reduce physical inactivity by 1% a year for five years – a move that could save the UK economy £1.2bn.
This comes after a new study showed millions of people are not exercising regularly. A not-for-profit health organisation looked at local authority data across England, finding that in boroughs where people are not exercising regularly there is a higher level of early death.
*Poor boroughs bear the brunt of government cuts*
Research shows that the poorest areas are bearing the brunt of local government cuts as richer areas get more money.
Poor boroughs in Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Manchester and London will lose 10 times more from the government than more affluent areas.
Councils in the most deprived areas face 25.3% cutbacks on average from the period 2010-11 to 2015-16; this can be compared to 2.54% cuts in the least deprived areas. Labour said data shows that the government was hitting the poorest hardest.
The shadow local government secretary, Hilary Benn, said: "These figures are shocking. They show the direct impact of David Cameron and Eric Pickles's unfair policies."
*Council of Europe says UK benefit level is 'inadequate'*
The Council of Europe in Strasbourg has said the benefits paid in pensions, jobseeker's allowance and incapacity benefit falls below 40% of the median income of European states and is "manifestly inadquate".
Ian Duncan Smith dismissed this as "lunacy" and said the findings, in an annual review of the UK's adherence to the council's European social charter, are merely to be "taken into account" by British courts when assessing claims.
*Report shows that councils could save £125m from welfare administration costs*
A report by the Audit Commission shows that councils could cut the amount they spent on welfare payments by as much as £125m.
They found that local authorities spent £827m administering the benefits on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2012-13. DWP gave £466m towards this cost and councils were expected to fund £361m themselves.
Jeremy Newman said: "After taking into account the size of their caseload, the Audit Commission found there was a great deal of variation in the amount councils spent. Higher-spending councils may be able to bring their costs down."
• Want your say? Email sarah.marsh@theguardian.com to suggest contributions to the network.
*Not already a member? **Join us now** for more comment, analysis and the latest job opportunities in local government.* Reported by guardian.co.uk 11 hours ago.
*Is there an inactivity pandemic?*
Local authorities have been urged to reduce physical inactivity by 1% a year for five years – a move that could save the UK economy £1.2bn.
This comes after a new study showed millions of people are not exercising regularly. A not-for-profit health organisation looked at local authority data across England, finding that in boroughs where people are not exercising regularly there is a higher level of early death.
*Poor boroughs bear the brunt of government cuts*
Research shows that the poorest areas are bearing the brunt of local government cuts as richer areas get more money.
Poor boroughs in Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Manchester and London will lose 10 times more from the government than more affluent areas.
Councils in the most deprived areas face 25.3% cutbacks on average from the period 2010-11 to 2015-16; this can be compared to 2.54% cuts in the least deprived areas. Labour said data shows that the government was hitting the poorest hardest.
The shadow local government secretary, Hilary Benn, said: "These figures are shocking. They show the direct impact of David Cameron and Eric Pickles's unfair policies."
*Council of Europe says UK benefit level is 'inadequate'*
The Council of Europe in Strasbourg has said the benefits paid in pensions, jobseeker's allowance and incapacity benefit falls below 40% of the median income of European states and is "manifestly inadquate".
Ian Duncan Smith dismissed this as "lunacy" and said the findings, in an annual review of the UK's adherence to the council's European social charter, are merely to be "taken into account" by British courts when assessing claims.
*Report shows that councils could save £125m from welfare administration costs*
A report by the Audit Commission shows that councils could cut the amount they spent on welfare payments by as much as £125m.
They found that local authorities spent £827m administering the benefits on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2012-13. DWP gave £466m towards this cost and councils were expected to fund £361m themselves.
Jeremy Newman said: "After taking into account the size of their caseload, the Audit Commission found there was a great deal of variation in the amount councils spent. Higher-spending councils may be able to bring their costs down."
• Want your say? Email sarah.marsh@theguardian.com to suggest contributions to the network.
*Not already a member? **Join us now** for more comment, analysis and the latest job opportunities in local government.* Reported by guardian.co.uk 11 hours ago.