Heather Jameson
Heather Jameson is editor of the MJ
Santa or the Grinch? No quick fix for fail finances
Heather Jameson says: 'It all comes back to the same issues over and again for local government. The funding system is fundamentally broken.'
McMahon returns to Labour frontbench
Former Oldham MBC leader Jim McMahon has returned to the opposition frontbench as shadow devolution and local government minister.
Autumn Statement: Business rates measures to be fully funded
Plans to extend business rates relief will be fully funded for local authorities, the small print of the Autumn Statement has confirmed.
Expected devo boost in Autumn Statement
Seven counties are expected to be among a swathe of non-mayoral devolution deals being lined up by the Government.
Devo’s the word – so what comes next?
Michael Gove’s appearance at the County Councils’ Network conference this week may have been ill-timed, but it was a masterclass in pure politics.
New Local deputy chief: 'Devolution is here to stay'
Devolution is here to stay, but the next Government needs to decide what to do with it, a think-tanker has claimed.
Gove hints at Autumn Statement gifts
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove hinted Christmas may come early for councils when Jeremy Hunt unveils his Autumn Statement this week.
Britain faces 'highest tax raising parliament in history', CCN told
Britain currently has the ‘highest tax raising parliament in history’, a leading economist has pointed out.
Moving in to pick up the pieces
Gavin Jones talks to Heather Jameson about the work that goes into sorting out the aftermath of a s114 notice.
Too many cuts could drain councils of their services
Heather Jameson says: ‘The question for ministers is not just ‘which councils face financial collapse’? It is also ‘which councils have cut so much that local services will suffer?’
Current climate making it ‘impossible’ for councils to carry on
Soaring demand, rising pay bills and inflationary costs are making it ‘virtually impossible’ to keep councils going, a senior chief executive has said.
Keeping the faith
As local government battles with budgets and rising demand, Heather Jameson spoke to Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan about what he wants to see from the next government.
‘City region powers can boost growth’
The next Government should devolve fiscal powers to the country’s three biggest city regions in a bid to boost growth, the Centre for Cities think-tank has urged.
AI: The future for local government
Last week, Rishi Sunak brought world leaders to Bletchley Park to focus on AI, but what will it mean for councils? Penna and The MJ asked a recent round table just that. Heather Jameson reports.
Councils are benched in the King’s Speech
It is disappointing to see nothing to resolve the woes of the sector in the King's Speech, says Heather Jameson – 'or to indicate councils may just provide some of the solutions for national issues'.
King's Speech light on local government solutions
The Government has vowed to increase economic growth – but warned the Treasury would prioritise cutting inflation over investments and borrowing – in its Parliamentary programme.
Senior salaries could face crackdown in King's Speech
Plans to curb senior council salaries could be included in the King’s Speech, due to be announced later today.
Edinburgh declares housing emergency
Edinburgh City Council has formally declared a housing emergency in the face of a growing crisis in the city.
Centralism isn’t working, can we try something different?
The all-star line-up at the launch of a Harvard report 'ultimately see centralism isn’t working', says Heather Jameson. 'It begs the question: If they see it, why can’t our current political ’masters’? Or if they do, why don’t they act?'
s114 a 'last resort,' say finance experts
Section 114 notices should be a very last resort when all else fails, local government finance experts told a Solace Summit session.
