Policy
Raynes bags combined authority post
Smith Square’s former head of programmes, Paul Raynes, is to join the team of directors at the new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
'Knock-on effects' warning over LEP deadline
A policy expert has added his criticism to the ‘overly-hasty’ September deadline for reformed Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) geographies and warned of ‘knock-on effects’.
Simplified rates retention approach mooted
A separate grant to reward councils that help Government achieve its policy objectives under business rates retention could be introduced, The MJ understands.
Whitehall attempts to reassure councils on Brexit
Whitehall has insisted it is working to help councils prepare for a hard Brexit despite claims some authorities have been left to fend for themselves.
Councils should hire a 'public entrepreneur' - report
All councils should appoint a ‘public entrepreneur’ to lead innovation and transformation, a report today has urged.
Councils warn of no deal Brexit risks
A no deal Brexit would leave councils struggling with new checks on EU imports and without access to billions of pounds, Smith Square has warned.
Recycling rates could be boosted by fraud, says auditors
The UK’s success at recycling may be being boosted by fraudulent exports of unrecyclable materials, auditors have claimed.
Complex outsourcing 'not an excuse to exclude public'
Increasingly complex modern outsourcing is not an excuse to exclude the public from the design of future partnerships, a think-tank has warned.
Simon Stevens outlines 'opportunity to review' Better Care Fund
The social care green paper and NHS’ 10-year plan provides an ‘opportunity to review’ the Better Care Fund (BCF), NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens has suggested.
Whitehall reassurance on local industrial strategies
Senior civil servants have pledged that local industrial strategies will be rolled out everywhere by 2021, The MJ understands.
Government should have 'performance tracker'
Government should have a ‘performance tracker’ to check the impact of its spending decisions, Institute for Government associate director, Dr Emily Andrews, has said.
Power to Change your view
Some say we grow to become the things we disliked as youngsters.
NAO to reinforce external auditing
The National Audit Office (NAO) is to reinforce the importance of external auditor reporting after warnings were raised but ignored by Northamptonshire CC.
Green Paper 'must address cash shortfalls'
MPs have urged ministers not to ignore ‘worrying’ declines in social care budgets as the UK prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
LGA in social rents plea
Ministers should drop plans to ditch social rents from the official definition of affordable homes while Britain continues to struggle to build new council housing, Smith Square has urged.
Davies takes forced mergers off table
Wales’ cabinet secretary for local government Alun Davies has taken forced council mergers off the table.
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.
Morse to maintain audit standards
National Audit Office chief Sir Amyas Morse has insisted he will not lower the standards expected from local auditors despite market concentration and plummeting fees.
Government waters down devolution framework plans
Hopes are fading that the Government’s devolution framework will jump-start the agenda when it is finally published.
Northern Irish councils' devolution call
The time is now right to extend the responsibilities of local government in Northern Ireland through greater devolution from Stormont, a new report said today.