Laura Sharman
Study raises concern over availability and price of children’s care
Local authorities are being forced to put children in unsuitable accommodation due to a shortage of decent placements, a study has found.
Watchdog warns care services face a 'tsunami of unmet need'
There could be a 'tsunami' of people not having the care they need unless action is taken to address staff shortages in social care, a watchdog said today.
Research shows drop in council pay over past decade
Frontline staff in local government have had their pay fall by around £1,500 in real terms over the past decade, new research has revealed.
Ombudsman flags housing waiting lists 'backlog'
The high number of families trying to join councils’ housing waiting lists has been highlighted by the local government and social care ombudsman.
Former local government secretary Brokenshire dies aged 53
Tributes have been paid to former local government secretary James Brokenshire after he died at the age of 53 from lung cancer.
Croydon to get directly-elected mayor
Croydon LBC will be run by a directly-elected mayor after the vast majority of voters backed the move in a referendum.
Councils must be at heart of levelling up, report argues
Councils must be at the heart of the Government’s levelling up agenda, a new report has argued today.
Local services face £8bn funding black hole by 2024, councils warn
Council tax will have to rise by more than a quarter in the next three years to cover the shortfall in funding for local services, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned today.
Devolution should be the default option, say MPs
Government should consider devolving greater powers in housing, health, planning and education, a new report has argued.
Social care system is 'levelling down,' analysis warns
The quality of social care is worse in the most deprived areas, undermining the Government's levelling up agenda, new analysis has revealed.
Ministers urged to ensure council staff have access to fuel
Ministers have been urged to introduce emergency measures to ensure local government workers continue to have access to petrol amid the UK’s fuel crisis.
Call to give care staff priority access to fuel
Ministers have been urged to introduce emergency measures to ensure social care staff can get fuel for their cars.
Social care plan 'contains far too little detail,' councils warn
Implementing the Government's cap on care costs will be an 'enormous undertaking' for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
HMJ: Analysis warns UC cut will widen health inequalities
The planned cut to the Universal Credit uplift will hit areas with the worst health the hardest, analysis by a charity has warned.
Blackpool threatens action over asylum hotel plans
Blackpool Council has warned planning permission will be required to use a hotel to house hundreds of asylum seekers.
Councils receive funding for data sharing projects
Vulnerable children and families will receive better support after a new fund was created to improve how data is shared between partners.
Voter ID law must be 'necessary and proportionate,' MPs warn
The Government must explain why a new law to make voter ID mandatory is both necessary and proportionate, MPs and peers have said today.
Quarter of rough sleepers no longer being housed under Everyone In
One in four people placed in emergency accommodation under the Government’s Everyone In scheme are no longer being housed, campaigners have warned today.
Tighter planning rules to protect communities from flood risk
Councils should ensure all planning applications made in flood risk areas are referred to ministers for approval under new guidance published today.
Review highlights 'widening cracks' in council complaints systems
The local government ombudsman has warned about the erosion to the way complaints are being handled by councils.
