Politics
Javid considers gradual introduction of 100% rates retention
The move to 100% business rates retention could happen gradually, communities secretary Sajid Javid has revealed.
Cable announces reshuffled Lib Dem line up
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable has unveiled his reshuffled shadow cabinet – which includes two former city council leaders.
Bob Neill: Get Britain building now
Bob Neill urges the Government to restore public trust and tackle the housing crisis by giving local authorities the tools they need to ensure the planning system facilitates housebuilding.
Gauke: Universal Credit rollout going to plan
Work and pensions secretary David Gauke has told MPs that the rollout of Universal Credit (UC) is ‘proceeding to plan, gradually and sensibly’ despite mounting concerns.
Mayors secure meeting with Brexit secretary
Three Northern Powerhouse mayors raised their concerns with Brexit secretary David Davis in York.
Trumpeting Parmo’s virtues
The election of Donald Trump as US president has ripped up all the established rules about leadership.
Housing is the Achilles Heel of the Conservatives
Michael Burton argues the Government should take the radical step of unleashing local authorities onto the housing market by removing borrowing controls.
Councils must show how local change can offer solutions that Whitehall cannot
As party conferences conclude for another year, Ben Page surveys the political opinions of the nation and explains what it all means for local government.
Financial fears grow in face of UC rollout
Pressure was this week piled on ministers as they vowed to push ahead with the troubled Universal Credit (UC) rollout.
Council calls for end to 'discredited' austerity
Inverclyde Council has called for an end to austerity and demanded a fair local government budget settlement.
Councillors attack planning reforms
Scottish Government proposals to overhaul the planning system would erode the local democratic process and fail to achieve their objectives,’ Aberdeenshire councillors have said.
May must fan the embers at the Conservative conference
In advance of this year’s Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Liam Booth-Smith asks if an embattled Theresa May is capable of using her platform address to reignite her premiership by tackling the burning injustices of housing and social care.
Brexit and councils will be on the Tory conference agenda
The strongly-represented LGA Conservative Group will have a lot to reflect on during the upcoming annual conference, as its leader, Cllr David Simmonds explains.
The Uber decision could hit Labour’s 2018 London borough election hopes
TfL's decision not to renew Uber's licence, backed by the capital's Labour mayor, could have an impact on the London borough elections next year, argues Michael Burton.
Blurring of responsibilities could undermine growth
Combined authorities must work with local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) to overcome the ‘institutional blurring’ of responsibilities that threaten to undermine growth prospects, experts have warned.
Andrew Gwynne: We need a DCLG that will fight for the sector
As the Labour conference gathers in Brighton, Shadow communities secretary Andrew Gwynne talks to Dan Peters about devolution, fiscal change, and his hope to represent the sector in a far more positive light.
Councils will have to pick up pieces when music stops
Paul Wheeler says councils must start planning to fix the dysfunctional housing market.
Missing the bigger picture?
It’s easy to ignore major issues and focus on smaller things to do and improve. But, argues Dan Corry, in public services there comes a time when you can no longer ignore that fact that the system is not working.
Devolution is dead: Long live devolution
Rumours of the death of devolution have been greatly exaggerated, it would seem, if the secretary of state is to be believed.
We must revisit the role of local government
With the political landscape in flux and mayors pushing the boundaries of their original remit, now is the time to remake the case for a constitutional settlement, argues Dr Jonathan Carr-West.