Whitehall
Foresight group finds 'lack of strategy and shared plan'
‘Siloed and isolated action has been proven to fail again and again’ in the country’s response to coronavirus, a debrief by a cross-government review has warned.
Treasury in property tax rethink
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is believed to be rethinking property taxes – including council tax and business rates – in a bid to balance the books post-COVID.
Jenrick launches plans to force sale of unused land
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced plans which will force councils to sell unused land and assets.
LGA to call in conspiracy theory experts
The Local Government Association (LGA) is to talk to university experts to help councils counter a rising tide of conspiracy theories.
Minister insists the May polls will go ahead
Local elections should go ahead in May, constitution minister Chloe Smith has insisted amid rising concerns over safety during the pandemic.
MP launches Bill to scrap business rates
Business rates should be abolished in a bid to save high street shops, an MP has claimed.
Local leaders pile on vaccine pressure
Frustrated local government leaders have piled pressure on ministers and officials over the speed and secrecy surrounding the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Uncertainty over rates rebate risk
More uncertainty has been heaped on councils after it emerged they could be hit by a £481m business rates rebate for the office sector.
Councils asked to 'redouble efforts' on rough sleeping
English councils have been asked to ‘redouble their efforts’ to help accommodate people sleeping rough, with the Government finding an additional £10m funding.
Bah humbug!
Last year was tough and 2021 will no doubt still be a bit of a slog for councils recovering from COVID.
Taking control of the devolution debate
Seb Lowe says that given the preference of government for unitary councils, failure by district councils to argue a solid alternative rationale ‘will lead to the very thing the majority are fighting to avoid’.
Major incidents over COVID declared
Major incidents have been declared for London, Essex, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire amid fears the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases could overwhelm health services.
Under-pressure services bid for respite
Under-pressure regulatory services are expected to be offered some respite over winter as ministers look to ease burdens on the sector.
Sector frustration as tougher restrictions arrive
Council leaders have expressed frustration after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tougher Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions across parts of the country the week before Christmas.
Government dismisses Redmond idea for audit regulator
The Government has poured cold water on the idea of a new independent regulator for local audit – the ‘central proposal’ of a review.
Minister denies ‘criminalisation’ of rough sleepers
A minister has denied homeless people are being criminalised following laws allowing the deportation of rough sleepers.
Croydon increases capitalisation request
Croydon LBC has asked the Government for a loan £20m more than the amount first floated weeks ago.
All I’m hearing is LALA-la
Diary hears the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government is in search of LALA land.
White van man on... Christmas
It’s just as well our politicians don’t run Amazon, else we’d all have starved to death.
Government issues legal threats to councils and schools
Councils this week clashed with the Government over whether to shut schools amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
