Politics
Javid: Devolution crucial in levelling up
Former local government secretary Sajid Javid has stressed the importance of devolution in the drive towards levelling up the country.
EXCLUSIVE: High needs spending could 'bankrupt councils'
A senior finance director has warned that spending on high needs threatens to ‘bankrupt councils’ as local authorities queue up for a bail out.
Queen's Speech: Controversial voter ID plans roll forward
Voter ID is expected to be introduced by May 2023 after the Government pledged to introduce legislation to ‘ensure the integrity of elections’.
Powell becomes shadow housing secretary in mini-reshuffle
Labour leader Keir Starmer has replaced his shadow housing secretary and brought in a high-flyer as shadow child poverty minister as part of a mini-reshuffle.
Ministers back council hiring of marshals beyond June 21
Ministers have defended councils for recruiting new COVID marshals for the coming year despite government plans to lift remaining coronavirus restrictions on June 21.
Devolution White Paper to be replaced by levelling up proposals
A levelling up White Paper will replace the long-awaited policy document on devolution and local recovery.
Trio drop out of flagship fund
Three local authorities have now dropped out of the Government’s flagship Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), it has emerged.
Social care ‘unfinished business’ for Tories
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said reform of the adult social care system is regarded as ‘unfinished business’ by the current government.
Councils accused of 'grandstanding' on asylum
The immigration minister has told councils to ‘play their part’ in accommodating asylum seekers, accusing them of ‘simply passing motions and making declarations’.
Council had 'truly toxic atmosphere,' tribunal hears
The Hammersmith & Fulham LBC director at the centre of an unfair dismissal claim had been working in a ‘truly toxic atmosphere,’ an employment tribunal has heard.
LEPs consider futures amid review
Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are considering their futures after ministers and officials signed off the terms of reference of a widescale government-led review.
Reorganisation being 'rushed through in pandemic'
The current local government reorganisation process is being ‘rushed through in a pandemic,’ a shadow minister has said.
Storm brewing over exit payment data demands
Government demands for details of senior staff pay-offs have been branded ‘particularly pernicious’ and unfairly aimed at local government.
Vaccine may be made compulsory for care home staff
Staff in English care homes with older adults may be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine in a bid to tackle hesitancy within the sector.
LGA distances itself from fire safety guide
The Local Government Association (LGA) has distanced itself from guidance hosted on its website that has been criticised in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Making elections meaningful
We need two things from our electoral system says Dr Jonathan Carr-West – enough stability to maintain public confidence and the possibility of meaningful change. But have we got the balance quite right?
Tight timescales force grant rejection
A new garden village featuring more than 2,000 homes has been thrown into doubt after Rutland CC turned down £29.4m it had bid for successfully.
MPs reject call for army vet checks
Parliament has rejected calls for a duty on local public bodies to ask service users whether they are military veterans when accessing services.
Labour’s Liverpool review will ‘shake the tree’
The Labour Party has kick-started its inquiry into failings at Liverpool City Council.
Home secretary urges councils to house asylum seekers
Home secretary Priti Patel has urged local authorities to identify further accommodation to house asylum seekers following the closure of a controversial temporary site in Wales.
