Martin Ford
Council grants oversight ‘not fit for purpose’
The governance of grants worth millions to registered housing providers by Bristol City Council has been heavily criticised by internal auditors.
Slough to make £200m capitalisation request
Slough Council is to ask the Government for a further capitalisation direction worth as much as £200m.
Councils appoint joint chief executive
Jonathan Stephenson will take on the role at Brentwood BC and Rochford DC for an initial six months from next month.
District cancels 700 court summonses
Harborough DC has apologised to residents after issuing hundreds of court summonses for unpaid council tax in error.
Dorset to grapple with £8m budget gap
Overspends in care services have left Dorset Council facing a budget gap totalling £8.3m by the end of the financial year.
Councils start to bring staff back to office
Councils have begun the process of bringing home-working staff back into offices as COVID-19 restrictions lifted this week.
No pay-out for suspended director
Croydon LBC’s suspended executive director of place has resigned with no pay-out, The MJ understands.
Walsall's £29m savings plan suffers delays
The council’s flagship £28.9m savings programme has been hit by delays as COVID-19 continues to take its financial toll on the sector.
Pressure mounts over planning reforms
Conservative councillors have bolstered the growing numbers opposing the Government’s planning reforms.
Lancashire rules out city of culture bid
The council has resisted pressure to back the county’s bid to become the next city of culture in 2025.
Freeports threaten to ‘undermine devolution’
Devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have raised concerns they are being sidelined by the UK Government as it presses ahead with establishing freeports.
Scottish councils receive £3bn housing grant
Local authorities in Scotland are to share more than £3bn of funding in a bid to increase the delivery of affordable homes.
Combined authorities lack ‘maturity’
A metro mayor has said combined authorities are not ready to take on new powers.
Minister fends off towns fund criticism
The Government aims to detail how the success of the towns fund will be judged before the summer recess.
Salford to establish housing association
The city council is bidding to create its own housing association.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority names new chief
Eileen Milner will take over the chief executive role in the autumn.
Reserves used to meet ‘avalanche of need’
A third of councils have resorted to using reserves to meet adult social care overspends, an extensive survey has found.
Right to Buy-back fund launched
London boroughs are to receive funding to purchase former council homes on the private market.
Derbyshire councils plan 'alternative' to unitaries
Councils in Derbyshire have drawn up plans to find a ‘viable alternative’ to carving up the county into unitaries despite lacking the support of two authorities.
‘Sweeping reform’ of elections required
Election officers have warned of an electoral system that is in 'danger of failing’.
