Laura Sharman
Queen's Speech: New measures to raise education standards
Local authorities will have a new duty to provide support to home-schooling families under new measures to reform education.
'Nutrient neutrality' rules delay up to 100,000 homes
Up to 100,000 new homes are being delayed due to new regulations around 'nutrient neutrality', according to new research.
Council to take legal action against asylum centre
Hambleton DC is to take legal action against Government plans to create a centre for asylum seekers in the district.
Call for clarity on council Hikvision use
Local government minister Michael Gove has been urged to clarify his position on buying surveillance cameras from tech firm Hikvision.
Gove calls for more social housing
Housing secretary Michael Gove has pledged to ‘tilt’ Government funding to build more homes for social rent.
Government intervenes over council's 'inadequate' children's services
The Government has issued a statutory direction to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council forcing it to improve its children’s social care services.
'Alarmingly high' numbers of exploited looked-after-children going missing from care
Nearly half of looked-after-children that have experienced criminal or sexual exploitation went missing from care in 2020, charities have warned.
Care homes could face 'widespread closures' under reforms, counties warn
Care homes are at risk of closure as the Government has ‘seriously underestimated’ the cost of its social care reforms, county councils have warned today.
HMJ: Councils urged to clamp down on junk food adverts
Public health experts have urged local authorities to restrict junk food advertising to stop companies exploiting a ‘loophole’ in new rules.
HMJ: Call to place alcohol addiction nurses in ‘Deep End’ GPs
A pilot scheme that placed specialist addiction nurses in GP surgeries across the most disadvantaged areas in Glasgow should be rolled out due to its success, according to a new study.
HMJ: Peers reject ‘regressive’ change to social care cap
The House of Lords has rejected an amendment to the £86,000 care cap that would have seen people on lower incomes pay more for their care.
HMJ: Minimum pricing not driving up cross-border purchases
People did not travel extensively outside of Scotland to buy cheaper alcohol following the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), a study has revealed.
HMJ: Progress on racial equality not ‘far or fast enough’
Trust leaders are ‘angry and frustrated’ over the slow pace of progress on race equality, according to a new survey by NHS Providers.
HMJ: Risk warning over screen time
Children’s health is being put at risk due to the rise in time they are spending on devices, researchers have warned.
HMJ: Smokefree scheme relaunched
The Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control has been relaunched to demonstrate how councils will help the Government meet its smokefree 2030 ambition.
HMJ: Call to cut VAT on e-cigarettes
Councils have called for VAT on e-cigarette sales to be reduced from 20% to 5% to help people stop smoking.
HMJ: Record numbers treated for eating disorders
A record number of young people are receiving treatment for eating disorders, according to new NHS figures.
Right to Buy policy has been 'strategic failure'
Right to Buy in England has become a 'strategic failure' that has exacerbated inequalities in society, a damning review has found.
Report finds Havant could financially become a standalone council
Havant BC will dip into its reserves as part of a package of measures to prepare for ending its partnership with East Hampshire DC.
Delay to waste scheme will create 'vacuum of uncertainty'
A scheme to shift the cost of collecting household waste from taxpayers to producers has been delayed by at least a year.
