Politics
North-east mayor back on agenda
Gateshead MBC’s leader has revived hopes of a north-east devolution deal by accepting that an elected mayor for the entire north-east region may be necessary.
Who are the losers?
At least in terms of public opinion, local government itself has come out of the pandemic crisis better than the civil service, says Ben Page – with 55% saying local authorities did a good job compared to 47% for the civil service.
Selbie hits back at PHE criticism
Public Health England’s (PHE) boss has hit back as ministers appear to shift blame onto the organisation for COVID-19 errors.
EXCLUSIVE: Labour support for bigger pay rise revealed
Labour has distanced itself from rival parties’ decision to block the Local Government Association (LGA) lobbying for a bigger pay rise for council workers.
Screening questions
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick came to this year’s Local Government Association (LGA) conference with his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Councils in local virus data call
Councils have called for the Government to go further after it finally started to publish more coronavirus testing data.
MPs refuse to back down on Westferry
MPs have refused to accept the Prime Minister’s attempts to close down questions over Robert Jenrick’s decision on the Westferry Printworks planning application.
Starmer to replace House of Lords with elected body
A Labour government will replace the House of Lords with an elected body of representatives from local and regional government, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told a virtual Local Government Association conference session.
Walking and cycling plea to avoid 'car-mageddon'
A senior councillor has warned against a ‘car-mageddon’ recovery post-lockdown as he urged the sector to invest in walking and cycling.
LGA shies away from reorganisation 'fight back'
The Local Government Association (LGA) has shied away from calls for it to launch a ‘fight back’ against reorganisation though senior members criticised any top-down approach.
Biggs: Westferry revelations have 'blown apart' confidence in planning system
The latest revelations about the controversial Westferry Printworks application have ‘blown apart’ confidence in the planning system under local government secretary Robert Jenrick, Tower Hamlets LBC’s mayor, John Biggs, has said.
Woolas backs rough sleeping fund
Former local government minister Phil Woolas has backed a social impact fund that promises to house 2,000 rough sleepers by the end of 2020.
Fresh reorganisation offensive leaves districts quaking
The County Councils’ Network (CCN) has launched a fresh offensive to rip up the local government map as the country emerges from the shadow of coronavirus.
Government's national approach criticised by top auditor
A top auditor has heavily criticised the Government’s ‘national approach’ to the coronavirus response.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh demand for modelling data
Ministers this week came under renewed pressure to share the Government’s latest coronavirus predictions and modelling to help local areas plan for the months ahead.
Councils urged to re-appraise in-sourcing
Local authorities have been urged to look at what they could do better than outsourcers in the wake of the collapse of Carillion.
Starmer challenges PM over council funding
Prime minister Boris Johnson was forced to deny he has been slow to act on council funding during a Parliamentary clash with Labour leader Keir Starmer yesterday.
South Ribble chief executive resigns
South Ribble BC’s chief executive has resigned after a year on ‘special leave’.
Fresh league table fears
The prospect of council performance being ranked in a league table has been raised again this week.
Jenrick insists he followed rules in Westferry decision
Under-fire communities secretary Robert Jenrick has insisted his decision to approve a controversial planning application by Conservative donor Richard Desmond was taken ‘in good faith’.
