Lib Dem Conference
Planning proposals will 'disempower' councils
The Lib Dems have used their autumn conference to warn that the Government’s planning proposals will ‘disempower’ councils.
Social care and climate change share limelight at Lib Dem conference
Increased funding via new taxes and more powers to tackle climate change are among the policies adopted at the Lib Dem conference this week.
Land value tax 'would benefit councils'
Replacing business rates with a land value tax could yield benefits for councils, a report has claimed.
Lib Dems fight for post-Grenfell action
The effective ‘privatisation’ of building control has led to a watering down of fire safety checks, the Lib Dems have claimed.
Former ministers call for cross-party care commission
Politicians from across the divide have joined forces to call for a cross-party commission to tackle the crisis in health and social care.
Draw power from the people
In all political parties it can be difficult to get the leadership to recognise that local government draws its mandate from the people, not the party, writes Dr Jonathan Carr-West
Open door policies
Stephen Hughes analyses ways in which the level of investment needed for housing can be attained.
Last but not least
The Lib Dems’ final annual party conference before next May’s General Election was, against all preconceptions, a buoyant festival of strong ideas and policy suggestions. Jonathan Werran reports.
Danny, champion of devolved property taxes
Chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has signalled his willingness to devolve a raft of property taxes to London - it has emerged.
Why the Lib Dems could still be in a coalition next year
Michael Burton envisages just how and why the Lib Dems, currently with 57 seats, hanging on to 35-plus next year, could be in a position to form a coalition with Labour after next year's General Election.
Clegg vows to improve 'Cinderella' mental health services
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has unveiled the introduction of waiting time targets for people with mental health problems for the first time in England.
LGA: office to home conversion laws undermine local planning system
A Government plan to extend the right of developers to turn offices into homes without planning permission ‘flies in the face of localism’, town hall leaders have warned.
Let local government deal with property revaluation
To cut through policital timidity, the whole problem of revaluing council tax levels should be handed down to local government, with extra powers to add in extra bands, argues Heather Jameson.
Lib Dem tax pledge gets poor reception
Liberal Democrat plans to create more council tax bands are a sign of the ‘hollow promise of devolution’ according to the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Rob Whiteman.
Cable lashes out at planned Conservative budget cuts
Business secretary Vince Cable has hit out at ‘ideologically obsessed’ Conservative Party spending reduction proposals for the next Parliament.
Burstow demands councils keep open-book on care costs
Former care minister Paul Burstow has called for local authorities to ‘step up’ to the challenge of social care funding through open-book accounting – so there is ‘no hiding place for the costs of care’.
Burstow calls for revolution in care home management
Former care minister Paul Burstow has warned more than 2,000 care homes have no manager and called for a ‘revolution’ in the sector.
Lib Dem minister calls for ‘fair votes’ in devolution pledge
Liberal Democrat MP and communities minister Stephen Williams has raised the prospect of electoral reform as part of the wider devolution agenda.
What about BOB? Lib Dems outline service integration plans
Local public services would be made integrate better under plans outlined at the Liberal Democrats’ Party conference in Glasgow.
Lib Dems commit to higher council tax bands
Senior Liberal Democrat ministers have used the Party’s last annual conference before next year’s General Election to state their commitment to increasing the number of council tax bands.