Funding
A step in the right direction
In the wake of Kent CC’s move to encourage a fairer share of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children among other councils, Ann McGauran talks to key figures about what needs to be done and whether the voluntary national transfer scheme can help in its new form.
Somerset CC to open up to 10 new children's homes
Somerset CC is to open up to 10 new children’s homes by 2026, admitting it is too reliant on larger for-profit providers in children’s social care.
Call for government to match local ambitions on climate change
Councils have said their efforts to reduce carbon emissions are being constrained by a lack of powers and funding.
Self-isolation payments 'failing' workers
Two out of three people applying for self-isolation payments are being rejected, according to new research.
Councils are owed certainty on funding
The Public Accounts Committee has published its fifth annual report. Chair Meg Hillier says there is much for local government to be concerned about and ‘even the best councils face real struggles ahead’.
Squeezing the balloon
Resources for social care are down and demand is pent up and rising says Iain MacBeath, but now must be the time to realise people’s ambitions for more flexible personalised support.
Rebuilding lives free from loneliness
The pandemic has revived our sense of community spirit. But we can’t forget those at risk of being left behind as COVID-19 recedes from view, says MP Matt Vickers.
LGA questions funding to tackle COVID-19 surges
Councils have voiced concern over funding to tackle COVID-19 in areas hit by the Delta variant.
Council presses ahead with £100m property investment
Somerset West and Taunton DC has doubled down on its commercial property investments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asylum seeker costs should be funded from the centre
The fair and humanitarian answer from the Home Office is to properly fund councils shouldering the burden of looking after unaccompanied asylum seeking children so they do not have to raid their children’s services budgets, says Michael Burton.
Supporting young victims of domestic abuse
Steph Waddell says it’s time for a serious long-term commitment from government to improve understanding of what works in supporting children affected by domestic abuse.
Districts in plea for leisure centre funding
A crunch meeting on the future of leisure centres is to take place this week, The MJ understands.
Hampshire faces £80m budget gap
A consultation has been opened by Hampshire CC on ways to address a budget shortfall.
Councils to set priorities for First Homes scheme
Councils will be able to set a ‘local connection test’ to give priority to people such as key workers.
How can we stop a surge in homelessness across Greater Manchester?
We need to ensure that the steps we take out of the restrictions do not mean pushing people into hardship and homelessness, says Dave Smith, of Stepping Stones Projects.
Council tax collection deficit hits £500m
Councils will need ‘additional help from taxpayers’ to balance their books, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has warned.
Sustainability of Scottish councils 'at risk' without long-term financial certainty, watchdog warns
The financial sustainability of Scottish councils is at risk without a longer-term settlement, the public spending watchdog has warned today.
Central Government must ‘sign off a National Leisure Recovery Fund #2’
There appears to be a clear disconnect between central Government’s public commitments to tackling the nation’s health and its approach to public sector leisure provision, says Mark Sesnan.
Council’s Grenfell recovery costs top £400m
Kensington and Chelsea LBC has spent more than £400m in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Sir Andrew Dilnot is upbeat on reform to social care
Author of the landmark 2011 review into social care funding Sir Andrew Dilnot is upbeat about the chances of reform to the system - saying he is ‘hopeful, and I don’t think I’m being Pollyanna-ish’.
