Mark Whitehead
Union questions Government severance pay guidance
Government advice that councils should reduce severance payments to bring them into line with the private sector is not based on any real evidence, according to the trade union for local authority chief executives.
Counties in inflation funding call
County councils have called for extra Government funding to cope with huge increases caused by inflation.
Bonds agency racks up £7m losses since launch
The company launched to cut the cost of borrowing for councils will continue trading despite losses totalling almost £7.4m since its launch eight years ago.
MPs accuse Government of 'gambling with public money'
MPs have accused the Government of ‘gambling with public money’ dished out for levelling up.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils warned to budget for 4% pay increase
Councils have been warned by local government employers to budget for pay rises of at least 4% this year, 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’.
New Solace hire to improve sector diversity
Senior officers' organisation Solace is recruiting a new officer in a drive to improve diversity.
Veolia to take action after complaints
Street cleaning and waste management giant Veolia has agreed to take action after three London boroughs complained about standards of service.
Council chief turnover quadruples post-pandemic
The number of council chief executives leaving their jobs has shot up in the last year, new figures have confirmed.
Housing ombudsman reports dramatic complaints increase
A dramatic increase in complaints has been reported to the housing ombudsman service, MPs have been told.
Council accepts peer review's call for change
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has accepted a peer review’s calls for change after it found the authority’s culture was ‘inward-looking’.
Glasgow CC offers ‘olive branch’ in equal pay row
Talks will take place today in a bid to settle the equal pay row that led to a two-day strike by more than 8,000 women.
Building a future
Women working in the construction industry are very much in the minority, but they could be a valuable source of much-needed skills especially post-Brexit. Mark Whitehead reports on a round table discussion attended by executives from industry and Waltham Forest LBC to provide some answers
Will the sexual exploitation scandal extend to local government?
A string of allegations against MPs over sexual harassment has thrown Westminster into turmoil. Mark Whitehead turns the spotlight on the local government landscape.
Council to change employment terms after shock departure
Bolton MBC is expected to change the terms of appointment for top jobs in the wake of its former chief executive quitting the post.
£80m fund opened to tackle social issues
The Government has opened an £80m fund for applications to support an initiative aimed at tackling entrenched social problems.
Bolton looks to change rules after Najsarek 'disappointment'
Bolton MBC is expected to change the terms of appointment for top jobs in the wake of its former chief executive quitting the post.
Rush for school formula may result in cuts to funding
Schools are being rushed into planning a new funding formula aimed at distributing support more fairly, local government education spokesman Roy Perry has warned.
Corbyn appoints Morris as new shadow communities secretary
Left-wing Labour MP Grahame Morris has replaced Jon Trickett as shadow communities secretary as leader Jeremy Corbyn was forced to reshuffle his top team.
Business leaders urge Bristol councils to get on with devo
Business leaders in the South West have urged councils in the Bristol area to speed up plans for a new combined authority and elected mayor.