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HEALTH

Council leaders blast Government over 'sugar levy'

Council leaders have urged the Government to stick to its pledge to reinvest money raised from the soft drinks industry into anti-obesity initiatives.

Local authority leaders have urged the Government to stick to its pledge to reinvest money raised from the soft drinks industry levy into council-run initiatives to boost physical activity.

The levy, designed to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, has raised around £1.2bn since its introduction but the chairman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, David Fothergill, said it was 'increasingly unclear' how the revenue generated was being spent.

Cllr Fothergill said: ‘It is vitally important that money raised through the levy is reinvested in physical activity programmes in local communities and other support to tackle childhood obesity.'

HEALTH

The challenges, opportunities and risks of devo

By Martin Ford | 29 January 2026

The Government’s drive for devolution is set to radically alter the landscape of local government. The National Audit Office (NAO) and The MJ brought togethe...

HEALTH

The visitor levy has the potential to be the start of a cultural shift in Government

By Zoe Billingham | 13 January 2026

Mayors will always be ultimately under the control of government without some financial freedom, so the visitor levy is an important early step forward, says...

HEALTH

Responsibility without autonomy

By Jonathan Carr-West | 02 December 2025

Despite the Government’s promises of devolution, the Budget treated councils as mere delivery agents, argues Jonathan Carr-West.

HEALTH

Chancellor's continued focus on growth and visitor levies is welcome

By Cllr James Lewis | 02 December 2025

Cllr James Lewis hopes the success of visitor levies gives Treasury officials the confidence to look at other forms of fiscal devolution to place.

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