Improvement
Councils resist peer challenge offer
The Local Government Association (LGA) is facing resistance as it struggles to persuade reluctant councils to undergo a corporate peer challenge.
Birmingham faces grievance complaint amid senior staff restructure
Birmingham City Council has launched a senior management restructure as part of the new chief executive’s efforts to improve the authority.
Birmingham back on the brink
Birmingham City Council’s financial crisis is deepening, a scathing report from auditors Grant Thornton has revealed.
LGA in Brexit uncertainty warning
The uncertainty surrounding the potential practical implications of Brexit is becoming of increasing concern to councils as March 2019 draws ever closer, a Local Government Association (LGA) report has warned.
Commissioners could 'take control' of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire CC's deficit could continue to rise and commissioners may be forced to take control of the council, councillors will be warned next week.
Stop trying to explain away poor performance
The sector needs to be more open and honest about poor performance, writes Abdool Kara.
Leadership should be more visible - peers
Gloucestershire CC’s senior political and managerial leadership should be ‘more visibly seen by stakeholders,’ Local Government Association peers have recommended.
Peers suggest senior management restructure
Local Government Association peers have suggested there is an ‘opportunity to rethink’ Shropshire Council’s senior management structure.
Complaints increase while satisfaction drops
Complaints to the ombudsman have increased by 3.5% while Smith Square data has revealed the lowest level of residents’ satisfaction with councils since polling began.
A fork in the road to austerity
Could CIPFA’s plans to create a financial resilience index for councils help rescue local government from further catastrophe? Nathan Elvery explains why he thinks a ‘traffic light’ rating could be heading down the wrong road.
County chiefs show red to traffic light ratings
County council chief executives have broken cover to warn that plans for a traffic light-style financial resilience rating system ‘risk over-simplifying complex issues’.
Powys CC chief executive to leave
Powys CC chief executive Jeremy Patterson is to leave the authority after almost 10 years in the role, the council has announced.
£2m Capita repayment after 'fraud'
Contractor Capita has been forced to repay £2m to Barnet LBC following an alleged fraud by an ex-member of staff within joint venture project Re.
Brokenshire considering new devolution models
James Brokenshire is considering new models of devolution as he seeks to extend further powers to local areas, the communities secretary has insisted.
Watchdog hails leadership at Scottish council
Scotland’s public spending watchdog has hailed the improved leadership of councillors and officers at West Dunbartonshire Council.
Brum 'not tackling issues quickly enough'
‘Crucial issues’ with the running of Birmingham City Council raised by Lord Kerslake in a report four years ago have ‘not been tackled quickly enough,’ the authority has been told.
Peers tell council to match words with action
Herefordshire Council has been told to ‘turn positive rhetoric into reality’ following a peer review.
Northants commissioners plead for patience
Commissioners appointed to stabilise Northamptonshire CC this week asked for patience amid snowballing member frustrations about the way they have operated since taking office.
Surrey has 'improved' since Parsons Green bomb
Surrey CC has insisted it has made improvements since the Parsons Green bomber partially exploded a device on a tube train, injuring 51 people.
Government told to return control to Rotherham
Rotherham MBC should be handed back full control of its services, ministers have been told.