Councillors
Councillors quitting 'increasingly toxic' environment
Death threats, stalking and spitting are leading to councillors quitting an ‘increasingly toxic’ political environment.
Debate Not Hate – the LGA’s call for change
Cllr James Jamieson outlines the LGA’s latest campaign aimed at addressing the level of abuse and intimidation councillors receive on a regular basis.
The steps to success as a new councillor
John Tizard explains how councillors elected in May can best fulfil the commitment to their communities and champion the interests of the people they represent.
A battle cry for strong councils
Communities suffer when Government is centralised, says leader of the Lib Dems Sir Ed Davey – and he believes local government is vital to fixing many of the issues that plague society.
The biggest event in the local government calendar returns
The sector is poised to gather next week at the LGA Annual Conference. Chairman Cllr James Jamieson says there will be no shortage of topics to discuss, including devolution and the urgent cross-cutting challenge of the cost of living crisis.
Max calls councils out
Former London borough chief Max Caller has carved out a niche for himself as a serial reviewer of failing authorities. He tells Heather Jameson what he has learned – and how councils can avoid collapse.
Adult social care inspections ahead
Whitehall officials are drawing up a controversial adult social care inspections system after the passing of a new law.
Call for council to publish legal report into chief's 'political' tweet
Opposition Conservative councillors have called on Tameside MBC to publish a top lawyer’s report commissioned after then-chief executive Steven Pleasant posted a ‘political’ tweet.
Minister tells councils not to depend on fine income
Councils should not be depending on income from litter fines when drawing up their future budgets, a minister has suggested.
Davies elected to lead Labour in local government
The leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Shaun Davies, has been elected to head up the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Labour group.
Warning over second s114 at troubled council
Conservative-run Northumberland Council may be hit by a second section 114, a senior officer has admitted.
Chief steps down after 'political' tweet
Tameside MBC chief executive Steven Pleasant has stepped down with immediate effect, just weeks after apologising for a tweet.
Changing the culture for our councillors
Local authorities need to offer new councillors a welcoming and safe culture that embraces diversity, says Ed Hammond. With an election cycle just complete there’s an ideal chance for engagement and change, he believes.
Councillors ‘undermining’ improvements at Wirral
The actions of members at Wirral MBC are threatening efforts to improve the council’s finances, according to its Independent Assurance Panel.
Remote controller
The Government these days is fairly often accused of not following the rules it determines.
Councils urged to draw on crisis management skills
Scotland’s councils should draw on their COVID-19 experiences when handling the new challenges posed by service backlogs and rising inflation, the country’s spending watchdog has suggested.
Birthday Zoom
Many say you have to be a sucker for punishment to seek office in local government.
A how to guide for new leaders
After the local elections, Claire Kober offers some tips for new leaders navigating political office for the first time.
Investigation into 'errors' that cost Liverpool £4.5m
An investigation has been launched into ‘control failures and errors’ that cost Liverpool City Council millions of pounds.
Councillors to boycott meetings
Councillors in the largest political group on Hartlepool BC have announced a boycott of meetings after one of their members refused to resign.