Dan Peters
Unison call for election safety measures
The Government needs to implement strict measures in May’s local elections to keep staff safe, trade union Unison urged today.
Employers branded a 'disgrace' over pay delay
Council employers have been branded a ‘disgrace’ after they said they would not respond to a union pay claim until after the May 6 elections.
Jenrick warned of legal action over end to virtual meetings
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has been served a pre-action letter warning of legal action to allow virtual council meetings to continue.
Public health commissioning move 'illogical'
A suggestion from the body representing NHS trusts that the commissioning of key public health services should be removed from local government is ‘illogical,’ councils have said.
Conservative call to ring-fence budget for councils
A new Barnett-type formula should be introduced that would legally mandate the Scottish Government to deliver a ring-fenced percentage of its budget to councils, Conservatives have argued.
Rough sleeping stats: 'We're still a long way from zero'
The number of people sleeping rough in England was up by more than half on 2010 despite the Everyone In scheme, the latest annual snapshot has shown.
Levelling Up Fund to feature rapid bid process
The £4bn cross-departmental Levelling Up Fund will feature a rapid bid process, with all projects having to be completed before the next General Election, The MJ understands.
LGA code of conduct 'unlikely to gain traction'
The Local Government Association’s model code of conduct is ‘unlikely to gain any traction across the sector’ because of the lack of sanctions breaches attract, council chief executives have warned Whitehall.
Calls to vaccinate election workers grow
Pressure is growing for key election workers to be prioritised in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout after the Government confirmed polls will take place in May.
Government 'open' to receiving Oxfordshire merger proposal
The Government is ‘open’ to receiving a proposal for a merger of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse DCs, the already closely integrated Lib Dem-led councils have been told.
Councils walk away from business rates pools amid income fears
Four business rates pools have walked away from the opportunity amid major uncertainty about the future income hit.
Crisis-hit Croydon expected to sell development firm
Senior councillors at crisis-hit Croydon LBC are expected to back moves to sell its controversial developer Brick by Brick.
EXCLUSIVE: Pressure mounts over SEND grant deficit
Councils are facing renewed pressure from the Department for Education (DfE) to make cuts to bring their massive special educational needs deficits into line.
Four councils strike capitalisation deals with government
Four English councils that were unable to balance their budgets will be allowed to borrow millions of pounds to boost their revenue accounts.
DCN bid for place on chief executives' network rejected
Senior Whitehall officials have knocked back a District Councils’ Network (DCN) bid to win a place on the influential nine-strong group of local authority chief executives, The MJ understands.
EXCLUSIVE: Pressure mounts on Jenrick over audit
Whitehall officials are putting communities secretary Robert Jenrick under pressure to change course after he failed to implement a key recommendation of the Redmond Review, The MJ understands.
Unions prepare to submit 'substantial' pay claim
Trade unions are preparing to ask central government to fund a ‘substantial’ pay rise for council workers in 2021/22, The MJ understands.
Government 'understands' virtual meetings call
Sector representatives have been told their arguments for allowing virtual meetings to continue have been ‘well-made and are understood’ by the Government.
Cross-party backing for European charter
The European charter of local self-government took a step closer to being incorporated into Scots law after a Bill received cross-party support at stage one.
Leading the way on the climate emergency
West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s approach to tackling the biggest challenge of our times led to it winning the Climate Emergency category at The MJ Awards last year, as Dan Peters reports.
