Scotland
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.
Growth plans for Norse
Norse Group has laid out ambitious growth plans that could lead to it hitting £0.5bn turnover.
Council staff vote for industrial action
Staff at East Dunbartonshire Council have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over planned changes to the workforce’s terms and conditions.
Manzie made a Dame
The former interim chief executive of Birmingham City Council, Stella Manzie, has been made a Dame in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to local government.
Scots councils in cash warning
Scotland’s local authorities are facing worsening financial pressures that could see them facing cuts to frontline services of ‘around 2% a year’, a leading economist has warned.
£90m Scottish city region deal struck
A Scottish Tartan Centre, Aquaculture Innovation Hub and International Environment Centre are to be established as part of a £90m investment package for Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
Case for Edinburgh tourist tax builds
Edinburgh City Council leader, Cllr Adam McVey, has argued a small tourist levy would be in the ‘best interests’ of residents, businesses and visitors.
Planning Bill progresses despite opposition
Scottish opposition parties have called for changes after expressing concerns about the Government’s proposed Planning Bill.
Regulator gets top council job
The chief executive of Scotland’s social care regulator has been appointed boss of Perth & Kinross Council.
Accounts Commission: ALEOs could become less attractive option in future
Scotland’s 130 council ALEOs (Arms-Length External Organisations) could become a less attractive option in future, according to a report by a public spending watchdog.
Social care at 'clear fork in the road'
Social care in England is at a ‘clear fork in the road’ between retaining the current system or making it free like the NHS, according to a study from two major health think-tanks.
Scots cash boost for more affordable homes
The Scottish government is to provide an extra £35m to local councils in order to fund the building of more affordable homes this year than originally envisaged.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitehall grabs £875m Right to Buy receipts
Labour has demanded immediate Right to Buy (RTB) reforms after figures obtained by The MJ revealed the amount councils lose to Whitehall under the regime.
No-one left behind: driving digital inclusion in Scotland
While basic digital skills are high, Scotland’s beautiful but equally dispersed landscape has helped make it the most digitally excluded region in the UK.
Accounts Commission in new finance warning
Finding ways to save money is now an ‘increasingly critical’ activity for cash-strapped councils, Scotland’s local authority watchdog, the Accounts Commission, has found.
Holyrood debates scrapping council tax
The Scottish Green Party has demanded an end to the ‘out of date, archaic, regressive’ council tax.
Scottish Government accused of 'deflection tactics'
Councils have accused the Scottish Government of using ‘deflection tactics’ after a top minister urged them to get on board with childcare plans.
Labour in tourism tax call
Labour has urged the Scottish Government to bring forward plans for a tourist tax after council leaders backed the move.
Scotland: Government underestimated childcare funds
The Scottish Government has severely underestimated the money councils will need to fund the planned increased provision of childcare, the Accounts Commission has warned.
Councils welcome SNP-Green deal
Councils have welcomed a deal between Holyrood finance secretary Derek Mackay and Scottish Greens, which claimed they had secured £170m extra cash for local authorities.