DLUHC
NCASC: Social care 'doing a good job' getting investment
Those working in adult social care are ‘already doing a very good job at getting investment and commitments to reform’, according to government minister Helen Whately.
Home Office admits 'more we can and need to do'
More needs to be done to share data and improve communications with councils, Home Office mandarins have admitted.
Council reprimanded after suffering Cyber attack
Gloucester City Council has pledged lessons will be learnt following a reprimand from a data watchdog over a Cyber attack.
Fulfilling a crucial role for children
As directors of children’s services prepare to attend the National Children and Adult Services Conference, Ann McGauran assesses the challenges and rewards of this important role
Public services out in the cold
There was little joy for under-pressure public sector budgets including local government from last week’s Autumn Statement as Michael Burton reports.
Councils welcome PWLB rate extension
Councils have welcomed chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to extend preferential Public Works Loan Board borrowing rates for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) expenditure.
Pressure for LGA peer review to be strengthened
Senior Local Government Association (LGA) figures are pushing the organisation to beef up its peer review offer to help neutralise the threat from Oflog.
MPs press Government to resolve audit crisis
The Government should show more urgency in tackling the local audit crisis, a committee of MPs has said.
MPs demand answers on Oflog independence
MPs have called for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to outline the degree of independence the Office for Local Government (Oflog) will have.
DLUHC defends homelessness monitoring
Mandarins have denied they do not have a clear picture of homelessness levels among Ukrainian refugees.
Fewer than 100 homes for refugees are occupied
Fewer than 100 homes acquired using a fund to support English councils obtain housing for those fleeing conflicts have been occupied, according to the latest figures.
Fundamental reform of council funding will require a cross-party initiative
If the next Government sticks to current commitments, performance in services will deteriorate further, says Rob Whiteman.
Southampton in informal talks with Government for support
Southampton City Council has been in ‘informal contact’ with the Government over a capitalisation direction as it attempts to avoid a s114 notice.
A call for clarity on Oflog
The Office for Local Government has sparked a flurry of passionate views within the sector. Stuart Hoddinott calls for clarity over how it will balance a more interventionist approach alongside a role as a ‘good faith convenor’ of councils.
Peer reviews: The heat is on
Is corporate peer review a robust enough way to predict the risks of a future section 114 or is it just one improvement tool in a system of assurance? Dan Peters examines the evidence.
Levelling Up Fund allocated
The third round of the Levelling Up Fund has been awarded to unsuccessful bids from round two.
Plymouth pulls out of ‘unreasonable’ devolution deal
Plymouth City Council has withdrawn from a proposed devolution deal after its leader branded it ‘unreasonable and unrealistic’.
Levelling up ambitions blighted by delays, says NAO
Ministers’ levelling up ambitions have been blighted by delays to key construction projects, with many deadlines unlikely to be met, the UK’s spending watchdog has warned.
Moving in to pick up the pieces
Gavin Jones talks to Heather Jameson about the work that goes into sorting out the aftermath of a s114 notice.
Too many cuts could drain councils of their services
Heather Jameson says: ‘The question for ministers is not just ‘which councils face financial collapse’? It is also ‘which councils have cut so much that local services will suffer?’
