Whitehall
Unions criticise 'unnecessary' pay offer delay
The three unions representing council workers today criticised ‘unnecessary delays’ after local government employers failed to make them a pay offer for 2020/21.
LEPs start to buckle after overlap threat
Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) are finally succumbing to a threat by ministers to withhold funding from them if they refuse to remove overlapping boundaries.
Councils under ministerial pressure over winter care funding
Ministers have piled pressure on councils to maintain winter funding for home care packages, hours of care and care home placements as bed blocking increases.
What are local government's prospects now?
Ben Page looks ahead at the prospects for local government.There is hope on social care, with a promise of cross-party talks within 100 days of the election. But on a host of issues, is benign neglect the best local government can hope for?
Brown calls for 'constitutional revolution'
Gordon Brown has called for a ‘constitutional revolution,’ with a series of citizens’ assemblies and a forum for mayors and regional leaders to shape change.
Dozens of children in care sent north of border
English councils are sending children in care hundreds of miles from their homes to secure accommodation in Scotland, new research has revealed.
Pressure on Government grows over schools grant deficits
Pressure is growing on the Department for Education (DfE) to take responsibility for growing dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficits as the number of councils reporting them rises.
York welcomes House of Lords move suggestion
York City Council has welcomed news that the Government is considering moving the House of Lords to the city.
More weirdos wanted!
You don’t have to be brilliant at digital, algorithms or a weirdo to see that naked self-preservation and worrying about rocking the boat too dramatically is what is behind the failure to deliver local public service reform, observes Donna Hall.
Lancashire first to borrow using municipal bonds agency
Local government’s dormant vehicle for lending councils cash was boosted today after announcing details of its first municipal bond with Lancashire CC.
EXCLUSIVE: Government prepares for new rate reliefs
The Government has started to prepare the ground for the introduction of new business rate reliefs after its previous efforts were labelled a ‘shambles’.
EXCLUSIVE: Government to build on Brexit working
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) wants to capitalise on the way it has worked with the sector over Brexit, The MJ understands.
EXCLUSIVE: Clash over timing of May election counts
Returning officers are on a collision course with police and crime commissioners (PCC) over the timing of counts for the May elections.
Localis hired for fiscal devolution study
The Local Government Association has commissioned research to better understand how greater control of financial and fiscal levers might operate in non-metropolitan areas.
Government social care plans to be published this year - Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson today vowed to publish the Government’s long-awaited social care plans this year.
Permitted development pressure on Government grows
Pressure is growing on the Government to conclude its review of homes built under controversial permitted development rights and scrap the rules.
Government: Commissioner no longer needs to oversee Wakefield children's services
The Government has agreed that a commissioner no longer needs to oversee Wakefield Council’s children’s services.
EXCLUSIVE: Government rejects pleas for flood recovery funding flexibility
The Government has rejected councils’ appeals for more flexibility over funding for flood recovery.
Doubts over March local industrial strategy deadline
The Government’s public commitment that all areas will have a local industrial strategy (LIS) agreed by March has been thrown into doubt.
March 11 Budget creates 'deep risk' for councils
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has written to the Chancellor warning of the ‘deep risk facing councils’ from delaying the Budget until March 11.