Michael Gove
Budget: Trailblazer devo deal for North East
The North East has secured a trailblazer devolution deal that could provide a package of new funding potentially worth more than £100m, chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced in his Budget.
Easing finances creates perverse incentives for failure
Capitalisation directions reward councils that are financially failing with the ability to raise taxes and borrow more - lumping future generations with a legacy of both inherited debt and decades of underfunded services, says Heather Jameson.
Craig's call for asylum change
Manchester City Council’s leader has urged Whitehall to implement ‘simple changes’ to asylum policy to ease huge pressures on major urban centres.
Union backs strike at Brum
GMB trade union members at Birmingham City Council have voted overwhelmingly to support strike action over perceived delays in settling equal pay claims.
Council funding crisis ‘existential’
Local government’s funding crisis threatens to derail ambitions to level up the north of England, it has been claimed.
More areas get level four devolution powers
West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the Liverpool city region will all receive level four devolved powers, local government secretary Michael Gove has announced.
Home Office 'chaos' leaves thousands of illegal arrivals in 'perma-backlog'
The Government’s struggling asylum policy has heaped significant demand on cities’ housing services, experts have warned.
Birmingham 'worse' than commissioners feared
The situation in Birmingham City Council is worse than commissioners expected, a report to the secretary of state has claimed.
Right to Buy scheme is in need of urgent reform
The Government should use the Spring Budget to set out key reforms to the outdated Right to Buy scheme to ensure it works for everyone, argues Cllr Darren Rodwell.
Senior Lib Dem calls for permitted development rights review
A review of permitted development rights (PDRs) should take place before reforms are introduced to make it easier to convert commercial buildings or units into homes, a senior Lib Dem has said.
Oflog data explorer to cover all main sector services by mid-2025
The Office for Local Government’s data explorer will cover all the main services offered by the sector by the middle of next year, the watchdog has pledged.
A call for prioritising local economic growth
In the case of councils in financial distress income-generation through a commitment to economic development must be explored, says Nigel Wilcock.
Just spinnin’ around
Local government secretary Michael Gove is considered one of Westminster’s best spinners.
Reform council tax to level up
Henri Murison says the archaic council tax system has to change – and work should begin immediately on a revaluation of all properties in England before the General Election.
Further planning reforms on way, says Gove
Empty shops could be quickly converted into homes and developers given fresh incentives to build on brownfield sites under ministers’ latest plans to expedite housebuilding.
Officer warning over street votes
Senior council officers have issued a scathing response to plans for street-level planning votes – dismissing the idea as a costly and complex ‘proliferation of polls’.
Putting assets in to active new uses
Martin Guest and Alistair Chapman look at whether real estate can effectively address local authorities' funding gap.
Why flood levy’s no longer affordable
As places reel from the impact of recent floods, Cllr Paul Redgate says the Government must deliver a fairer and sustainable funding system for Internal Drainage Boards.
Clampdown threat to diversity programmes
The Government is to clamp down on diversity programmes as part of a drive to ‘reduce wasteful expenditure’.
Is it going to be giveaways or propping up councils?
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has asked Treasury staff to scout for potential cash for local government, and he received news of a fiscal windfall this week. Could that mean a boost to the settlement, asks Heather Jameson.