Wales
Conservatives lose their lone Welsh council
In Wales, the Conservatives lost their only council at the local elections, with Labour the clear election night winners.
Scottish census extended amid low completion rate
The Scottish Government has extended the deadline for census returns by four weeks in a bid to boost a completion rate of just 77%.
All regions told to take asylum seekers
All regions of England, Scotland and Wales will be expected to take a share of asylum seekers under a new system of ‘full dispersal,’ the Government has told councils.
Government unveils £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The Scottish and Welsh Governments say they have been short-changed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Town halls must find more cash for wages
Councils have been warned they will have to find more in their budgets to fund the sector’s increasing wage bill.
Merthyr Tydfil improvement board ends
Independent oversight of Merthyr Tydfil CBC has come to an end following improvements to its governance and sustainability.
Auditor blames backlog on staff 'capacity'
External auditors have blamed ‘staff capacity’ at Isle of Anglesey CC for a three-year backlog of work.
Former chief takes boundary commission role
Beverley Smith has been appointed chair of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.
Wrexham faces £2.3m budget gap
Savings across most services have been outstripped by overspends in social care.
Levelling up funding failing to focus on social issues, finds research
Government levelling up funding is failing to focus on social issues and misses targetting crucial problems, according to new research.
Welsh councils win £750m funding boost
The Welsh Government has included a £743m increase in funding for councils in its latest budget.
Watchdog calls for regional partnership boards to improve accountability
The accountability of regional partnership boards (RPBs) should be improved, according to Audit Wales.
Wales and Scotland raise asylum concerns
The Scottish and Welsh Governments have called for talks with Westminster over the asylum system.
Councils warned against ‘precautionary’ school closures
The Government has told councils schools should not be closed unless there is a ‘public health emergency’.
Councils warn of 'damaging cuts'
Councils in Wales have warned of ‘damaging cuts to local services’ without an increase in funding.
Welsh Government to work with local authorities on council tax reform
The Welsh Government has pledged to work with local authorities in revamping council tax following a consultation to be launched next year.
Dementia tops COVID for care home death cause
Coronavirus was the second highest cause of deaths among care home residents behind dementia last year, according to latest figures.
Council U-turns on second homes tax hike
Conwy CBC is the latest authority in Wales to struggle with its approach to reining in the number of second homes.
Call for fresh powers from ombudsman
England’s local government ombudsman today demands wide-ranging new powers to investigate complaints across town halls, social care and education amid concern current regimes are outdated.
Swansea condemns cinema over COVID rule break
Swansea City & CC has condemned a cinema that defied a Welsh Government order to close after it refused to implement COVID pass requirements.
