Councillors
Ministers: Don't rely on more funding
Ministers have warned councils not to rely on more funding on top of the announcements made so far.
Council to take commercialisation to 'next level'
Senior Ashford BC councillors will accelerate their approach to commercialisation to the ‘next level’ amid uncertainty over future government funding and a COVID-19 budget hit.
Ministers to receive Somerset unitary business case
A business case for a single Somerset unitary has been sent to communities secretary Robert Jenrick and local government minister Simon Clarke.
Williams: I'll accept whatever it takes to get a county unitary
The leader of Hertfordshire CC has conceded he would accept a directly-elected mayor as the figurehead for a county unitary in order to secure reorganisation.
Councillors in south east reject metro mayors, says poll
Seven out of ten councillors in the South East of England are against plans for metro mayors, a poll has revealed.
Committee bemoans 18-month delay to report response
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has scolded ministers for taking 18 months to respond to its report on ethical standards in local government.
Reorganisation will deter potential councillors, report warns
Local government unitary reorganisation will slash the number of councillors and deter many from standing for election, a report for the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Croydon reaches out for MHCLG lifeline
Croydon LBC is understood to have made initial contact with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as it approaches Section 114 territory, The MJ understands.
Somerset unitary plan 'too big'
South Somerset DC councillors have claimed proposals for a single county unitary are based on ‘failed examples of local government’.
District criticises lack of data flow from county
The leader of a district council neighbouring the Leicester lockdown has criticised the lack of coronavirus testing data flowing from County Hall.
Spending controls for Ealing
Senior Ealing LBC councillors have agreed to introduce strict and wide-ranging controls on spending as the council seeks to balance its budget.
Blow for tri-borough shared service
The back office support service shared by three London boroughs has been dealt a blow.
Concerns raised over scrutiny vacuum
A charity has expressed worries about councils that are in danger of effectively having no scrutiny function for six months.
EXCLUSIVE: Labour support for bigger pay rise revealed
Labour has distanced itself from rival parties’ decision to block the Local Government Association (LGA) lobbying for a bigger pay rise for council workers.
Walking and cycling plea to avoid 'car-mageddon'
A senior councillor has warned against a ‘car-mageddon’ recovery post-lockdown as he urged the sector to invest in walking and cycling.
Minister warns about council 'sustainability' after rebellion
A minister has warned Boston BC could become ‘unsustainable’ after councillors rejected sharing services with East Lindsey DC.
LGA: Councils need £6bn more
Councils need as much as £6bn more to cover the additional costs and losses incurred as a direct result of COVID-19, analysis of the latest financial returns by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found.
Tories lose borough following resignation
A Conservative councillor has resigned from the party over the actions of Downing Street advisor Dominic Cummings, erasing the party’s grip on West Devon BC.
EXCLUSIVE: LGA split over worker bonus
A cross-party agreement that the Local Government Association (LGA) would lobby for a coronavirus payment to staff was ditched after senior councillors blocked the move, The MJ can reveal.
Watchdog urges faster improvement at Argyll and Bute
The council has been told it must ‘significantly increase’ the pace of improvement by the Accounts Commission.
