Local democracy
Councils bring it home
Diary admits it was excited when it heard whispers that football was coming home.
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.
Brokenshire pushed on Brexit
Local government has presented communities secretary James Brokenshire with a list of Brexit-related issues that need immediate solutions.
Voter ID in perspective
Jo Miller, in her role as a returning officer, argues that Voter ID is a very expensive way to tackle a problem that is not a top priority in the UK.
LGA Labour group to seek legal advice
Smith Square’s Labour group will seek legal advice over national party proposals to allow members to elect council leaders, The MJ can reveal.
East Midlands unitaries 'would help region compete'
Leicestershire CC’s leader has outlined his vision for unitary councils covering the East Midlands so the region can compete with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
COSLA in tourism tax call
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA) president today called for more financial power for councils, starting with the discretion to introduce a tourism tax.
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.
Mayors renew skills call
England’s directly-elected regional mayors today renewed their call on the Government for greater devolution of powers and funding over skills.
Magistrates can make a difference
Bob Neill asks why more local authorities are not making more use of the valuable skills and perspectives a magistrate within their workforce can provide.
Call for greater council oversight of academies
Ministers need to take control of ‘faltering’ academy finances or let councils oversee them, town halls have urged today.
Telford CSE inquiry delayed to involve victims
An inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford has been delayed to give victims a greater say in its formation.
Decisions, decisions
Mark Conrad reports from a recent round table tackling the issue of effective decision-making in local government.
Building trust in democracy
With the local elections taking place today, Dr Jonathan Carr-West says: get the processes right and the results will follow, especially when seeking to ensure faith in the system of democracy
Future Forum: LGA to push for place-based EU funding replacement
The Local Government Association (LGA) will push for a place-based replacement for EU funding after Brexit, Smith Square’s chief executive has said.
Calls for a new Audit Commission are an affront to localism
Ian Miller rejects recent calls for the reinvention of the Audit Commission.
Empowering your residents
Authorities can empower residents by changing behaviour and enlisting support for that change when service providers and volunteers in communities come together, writes Maxine Moar.
Housing and Brexit: a toxic mix for the Tories on 3 May
Michael Burton asks whether local issues could help the Conservatives salvage some comfort from what could be a car crash election for them next month.
Government orders councils to cease fortnightly publications
The Government has directed Hackney and Waltham Forest LBCs to cease publication of their fortnightly newspapers and publish no more than quarterly.
Welsh Government in new push for larger councils
Local government in Wales is facing a radical overhaul, with ministers consulting on plans to create ‘larger, stronger councils’.