Coronavirus
‘Dig deep and continue’
A ‘huge’ unvaccinated group of six million adults and deepening inequalities are among the risks as communities begin to move towards economic and social recovery. Ann McGauran reports.
Minister backs council finance review
A full review of council finances will take place in Northern Ireland after minister Conor Murphy endorsed the proposal.
Peers find 'strong and effective leadership' at council
Telford & Wrekin Council has ‘strong and effective’ political and managerial leadership, Local Government Association peers have found.
Cornwall overspend poses ‘serious financial risk’
The council is on course to overspend its budget by around £18m by the end of the financial year.
Leicestershire faces worsening financial crisis
Leicestershire CC has said factors such as COVID-19 have left it facing a worsening financial crisis.
Row over extra social care funding
The Welsh Local Government Association has hit out at the ‘insulting and unsubstantiated comments’ of Care Forum Wales following the announcement of extra funding for the country’s councils.
Making the most from limited funding
Paul Hunt outlines how Bradford City Council’s innovative use of the Government’s pandemic grants has benefitted local care providers – both throughout the pandemic and long-term
Reimagining culture for our local communities
Arts Council England will stand with local authorities that seize the chance to build a vibrant new reality for every place, born out of creativity, says Darren Henley.
Three priorities for the new education secretary
Donna Molloy of the Early Intervention Foundation outlines three priorities for the new secretary of state for education Nadhim Zahawi and says there’s a ‘window of opportunity’ for positive change.
Councils could lose COVID cash over lack of data
English councils have been warned future funding to help reduce the spread of coronavirus could be at risk unless they provide accurate data on spending.
HMJ: Cracks in services ‘clearly visible’
The pandemic has exposed structural weaknesses in maternity funding leading to ‘tragic events’ in recent years, maternity royal colleges have warned.
HMJ: Health in the North hit hardest by COVID-19, finds report
Northerners were more likely to die and be hospitalised due to COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic compared with the rest of England, a report has found.
HMJ: Sector’s mixed reaction to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines
Making COVID-19 and flu vaccinations mandatory for all frontline health and care workers would help level the playing field between the NHS and social care, Care England has argued.
HMJ: Disabled children’s conditions have worsened during COVID
Many services for disabled children and their families have been ‘slow to return’ since lockdown restrictions were lifted, according to the results of a new report.
HMJ: Time to build upon the digital journey
To build a sound future for our health services, we must accelerate the digital journey, as Paul Sanders at Civica explains.
Unintended consequences of tax hikes
Heather Jameson says: 'Something that may appear straightforward – raising taxes to pay for care and capping the cost for the consumer – is fraught with unintended consequences.'
Government fails to consult DPHs on winter plan
Public health directors have hit out at a lack of engagement by the government in developing its autumn/winter COVID-19 plan.
Why working with Irish businesses could fuel local economic growth
Laura Brocklebank reports on the success of an innovation and knowledge sharing event with London council leaders focused on greater trade collaboration between the UK and Ireland.
We need to move on
Baroness Claire Fox says vaccine passports for events would ‘cause immense harms, mainly to the fabric of society’ and it’s not clear if they would impact on virus spread.
Probing possible post lockdown pensions trends
Lawyer Helen Woodford considers how the aftermath of the pandemic could impact and shape employees’ decisions on their membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
