Local Government Association
LEPs start to buckle after overlap threat
Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) are finally succumbing to a threat by ministers to withhold funding from them if they refuse to remove overlapping boundaries.
Councils under ministerial pressure over winter care funding
Ministers have piled pressure on councils to maintain winter funding for home care packages, hours of care and care home placements as bed blocking increases.
Getting districts ‘match fit’ for the global stage
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) annual conference in Warwick will provide a golden opportunity to shape our post-Brexit future, says Cllr John Fuller.
Pressure on Government grows over schools grant deficits
Pressure is growing on the Department for Education (DfE) to take responsibility for growing dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficits as the number of councils reporting them rises.
Shining a strong light
The Local Government Association is about to launch a review of its peer challenge process. Paul Marinko asks whether the approach is robust enough to meet the demands of a tough financial climate.
EXCLUSIVE: Government prepares for new rate reliefs
The Government has started to prepare the ground for the introduction of new business rate reliefs after its previous efforts were labelled a ‘shambles’.
EXCLUSIVE: Clash over timing of May election counts
Returning officers are on a collision course with police and crime commissioners (PCC) over the timing of counts for the May elections.
Localis hired for fiscal devolution study
The Local Government Association has commissioned research to better understand how greater control of financial and fiscal levers might operate in non-metropolitan areas.
Permitted development pressure on Government grows
Pressure is growing on the Government to conclude its review of homes built under controversial permitted development rights and scrap the rules.
Doubts over March local industrial strategy deadline
The Government’s public commitment that all areas will have a local industrial strategy (LIS) agreed by March has been thrown into doubt.
Boston urged to ‘shout loudly’
The council has been told it should be proud of its achievements following a corporate peer challenge by the Local Government Association.
Another senior management restructure for Warrington
Changes to Warrington Council’s senior management structure will be made, senior councillors have decided.
Future Forum North: Call for towns and cities to make peace
The driving force behind the Greater Manchester devolution deal has urged towns and cities to make peace.
A vote for change
Local government calls for ‘radical change’ and ‘genuine devolution’ increased this week as political parties prepared to unveil their General Election manifestos.
EXCLUSIVE: Fears over 'watered down' committee replacement
Fears have been raised that the UK will be landed with a ‘watered-down replacement’ for the EU Committee of the Regions after Brexit.
Peer review proposal for pensions
The Local Government Association peer review programme could be expanded to include council pension schemes, a new report has suggested.
LGA loans more cash to commercial arm
Smith Square lent its commercial arm £2m at the start of the year and last month provided further funding, it has emerged.
Employers delay response to 10% pay claim
Local government employers have told trade union leaders that they are unlikely to respond to their 10% pay claim before next year.
The secret is out – take the challenge
The more the message is spread within councils, the stronger the Local Government Challenge has become 10 years on, say Cllr Paul Carter and Cllr Kevin Bentley.
Hold SEND balances centrally or provide 'sufficient funding'
The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) crisis should be tackled by providing ‘sufficient funding’ or by holding balances centrally instead of on council balance sheets, a chief executive has told The MJ.