Reorganisation
Jenrick urges councils not to delay on coronavirus spending
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick this week urged council leaders not to put off decisions because of money in their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Academics urge fiscal devolution
Experts have told MPs that financial powers must form part of the Government’s devolution plans.
Councils are survivors
Claire Kober says that while the year ahead promises its up and downs, The MJ's columnists are united on the resilience of the sector and its ability to withstand whatever is thrown at it.
Reorganisation fears overshadow devolution talks
Concerns over local government reorganisation are marring devolution talks in the north-west.
Dorset facing £16m overspend following ‘challenging year’
The council’s expected overspend for the financial year has grown due to increased demand for services.
Will devo be lost in translation?
What next for districts and devolution, asks Kathy O'Leary. Are there lessons we can learn from Japan?
EXCLUSIVE: Councils call for say in devo White Paper
Councils are battling to ‘jointly craft’ the devolution White Paper ahead of its publication later this year.
Essex challenges evidence base for Basildon unitary bid
Essex CC’s leader has questioned the benefits of Basildon BC’s pursuit of unitary status.
LGA chair's concerns over Cumbria reorganisation
Doubts have been expressed over the proposed reorganisation of local government in Cumbria.
Sizing up the efficiency problem
If delivering efficiency is a driver for local government there are reasons to believe there may be a ‘right size’ for authorities, but as Abdool Kara reveals, history suggests other factors are at play.
Northants targets millions of savings
Northamptonshire CC has published its draft budget for 2020/2021 amid concerns over children's services and roads maintenance.
Borough seeking unitary status sparks spending row
A row over council spending has broken out between a county council and a borough authority that is seeking unitary status.
Talks bring devolution closer for Yorkshire
Devolution came a step closer in Yorkshire this week as ministers met with leaders from across the county.
Councils appeal for reorganisation to cross county lines
Lancaster City Council, South Lakeland DC and Barrow BC have cautioned against sticking to ‘arbitrary’ county borders in local government reorganisation.
Lessons for digital change from the new unitaries
Nine months after the creation of two new unitary councils in Dorset, what have been the lessons from implementing change programmes, especially digital change? Chief executives discussed the issue at a round table debate hosted by The MJ and BT.
Kettering to create town council
A new town council is to be created as part of local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire.
Northamptonshire unitaries to save £86m
Local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire will cost just over £40m, according to the early official estimates.
Reorganisation in Somerset would 'cut waste and save money'
A single, unitary authority for Somerset would deliver a predicted saving of £35-£47m, according to research released today.
This will be a different Conservative Government
Head of local government at Grant Thornton UK, Paul Dossett, says the fact that the Conservative majority has been won by gaining seats in towns in Wales, the Midlands and the north of England will make a difference.
A bandwagon that won’t stop rolling
The arguments for creating large unitary authorities have not been developed in an evidence-based way, say Steve Leach and Colin Copus. How can the persistence of ‘reorganisation by stealth’ be explained?