Dan Peters
Inflation 'biggest worry' for pension schemes
Inflation is the biggest worry for six out of 10 local government pension scheme (LGPS) professionals in England and Wales, new research has found.
Government provides support to troubled combined authority
The Government is providing support to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) after its chief executive quit amid a bullying probe into the mayor.
Future Forum: Funding gap could grow by up to £2bn
The funding gap facing the sector could grow by up to £2bn over the Spending Review period, the deputy chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Future Forum: No end in sight for funding pots
Two local government finance experts have predicted Whitehall will continue doling out cash through competitive pots.
Future Forum: Need to reduce rising child care numbers
The local government sector needs to bring down the increasing numbers of children in care, the immediate past president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services has said.
Future Forum: Government must do more to help those on lowest incomes
The Government has failed to do enough for those on the lowest incomes, a top economist has told The MJ’s Future Forum event.
EXCLUSIVE: Combined authority mayor faces probe amid chief’s shock exit
The chief executive of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has quit after less than a year amid a bullying probe into the mayor.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitehall risk warning over election reforms
Whitehall officials have privately admitted councils could be overwhelmed by one of the largest sets of electoral reforms ever seen by local authorities, The MJ understands.
Nottingham expected to bring housing back under direct control after probes
Nottingham City Council is expected to bring its housing back under direct control after two independent probes found ‘underlying issues around governance and finance’.
UK comes under pressure to adopt rights charter
Local leaders will continue to be ‘heavily constrained’ until the UK follows through on its promise to guarantee the rights of local government in law, a sector expert has warned.
Scottish workers prepare for industrial action
Thousands of local government workers in Scotland are preparing to take industrial action over pay.
Merger plans axed after Stratford-on-Avon concerns
Plans to merge Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick DCs will not go ahead after the former got cold feet.
Targeting an end to rough sleeping
Even political rivals want minister Eddie Hughes to deliver on the target of ending rough sleeping in England within two years. But is the Government dragging its feet on expanding the ‘really important’ Housing First scheme? Dan Peters reports.
Government adviser urges ministers to expand Housing First
Ministers must pile further cash into Housing First schemes if they want to meet their target of ending rough sleeping in England by 2024, a Government adviser has urged.
Sunak snubs LGA meeting request
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has snubbed a Local Government Association (LGA) call for a meeting on a range of issues affecting the sector.
Councils should be funded to co-design child mental health hubs - report
Councils across the country should be funded to co-design open-access hubs to support young people’s mental health, a new report by think-tank Reform has suggested.
Councils urged to reconsider Russian risks
Councils have been encouraged to reconsider the risks of using Russian technology and software following the invasion of Ukraine.
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.
LGA in energy costs leisure warning
Rising energy costs are ‘driving decisions’ to close council leisure facilities or reduce opening hours, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Soaring vacancies and declining pay highlight sector crisis
Latest figures this week showing the soaring number of job vacancies coupled with declining public sector pay have highlighted the recruitment and retention crisis facing the local government sector.