Mark Conrad
Proposed law could ease housing emergencies
Scottish councils may be required to assess the condition of private rented accommodation under a proposed law.
Elections on cyber alert
Ministers have warned this year’s local and national elections are 'not business as usual’ – as councils prepare to tackle technological and geopolitical threats to voting security.
Ministers stand firm on tax bands
Ministers have reiterated to MPs there are ‘no plans’ to revalue council tax bands due to the cost and disproportionate impact on lower-income households and pensioners.
Asylum centre site could host prison
Braintree DC has warned it faces intervention from a second Government department when the Home Office ends its controversial use of a former airfield as an asylum centre.
Complex funding stymies net-zero push
A ‘complex web’ of hard-to-reach Whitehall funding pots is hampering councils’ net-zero initiatives – with two-thirds of town halls not confident of hitting crucial targets.
Hopes for regen scheme revived after Home Office scales back asylum plan
A £300m council-led regeneration scheme threatened when Whitehall commandeered the site for asylum accommodation could now go ahead after the plan was scaled down.
Officer-councillor tensions affecting outcomes, review finds
‘Clear and obvious tensions’ between Teignbridge DC’s executive and senior leadership team are ‘inhibiting progress and damaging the council’s reputation,’ a review has warned.
A first step in tackling abuse
As the Government finally moves to introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, councils are warning a complete programme of action is needed to significantly reduce the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. Mark Conrad reports.
LGA warning over XL Bully dogs ban
Councils face a double whammy of soaring costs and declining police support as they try to enforce a ban on XL Bully dogs.
Government 'may have underestimated' mandatory reporting impact
The Home Office may have underestimated the additional number of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases when mandatory reporting is introduced, experts have warned.
Judgment day
Kent and Home Office face growing pressure over asylum-seeking children.
'Housing emergency' council calls for Whitehall action
A council that recently declared a housing emergency has written to six Whitehall departments, urging them to ‘take decisive action’ because the situation is deteriorating.
Limited exemptions for empty homes powers
Councils will face only a limited number of exemptions from new powers allowing them to levy higher taxes on empty homes, ministers have confirmed.
Right to Buy lobbying fails as Treasury ends temporary boost
The Treasury has confirmed councils will no longer keep 100% of Right to Buy (RTB) receipts after the current financial year despite lobbying by the sector.
Craig's call for asylum change
Manchester City Council’s leader has urged Whitehall to implement ‘simple changes’ to asylum policy to ease huge pressures on major urban centres.
Coventry pushes ahead with 'fire and rehire' plan
Coventry City Council has begun a staff consultation over controversial ‘fire and rehire’ proposals.
Employers to consult on 10% pay claim
Local government employers will consult on trade unions’ 10% pay claim throughout this month.
Union backs strike at Brum
GMB trade union members at Birmingham City Council have voted overwhelmingly to support strike action over perceived delays in settling equal pay claims.
'Culture of mistrust' found at Newham
Newham LBC’s chief executive has vowed to tackle the ‘culture of mistrust’ among politicians and officers laid bare by a critical peer review.
CIPFA pleads for Oflog costs to be kept down
It is ‘unrealistic’ to think the Office for Local Government (Oflog) will not pile fresh resource pressures on councils, finance experts have warned.