Tom Bridge
Reject devo deals at your peril
Councils rejecting devolution deals have been warned they are doing so ‘without full knowledge’ of the consequences, as another deal hits the buffers.
Cash cuts curb employment aid
Budget cuts are preventing councils from delivering employment and skills support, according to a new report.
Whitehall's 'frustrating silence' raises devolution concerns
Senior local government figures have blasted Whitehall’s ‘frustrating silence’ over devolution as pressure mounts on prime minister Theresa May to deliver ‘grown up’ deals.
A healthy debate
With health and care integration remaining top of the agenda, The MJ and BT hosted a round table debate with leading local government figures to discuss the future role of technology and the state of partnership working between councils and the NHS.
Can Burnham burst the Westminster bubble?
After being named Labour’s candidate for the Greater Manchester metro mayor, Andy Burnham talks to Thomas Bridge about his aims for the role, the future of devolution and why he wants to step away from Westminster and into local government.
Tax redistribution mooted
Scottish Government plans to raise and redistribute £100m of council tax to fund schools are facing council opposition.
Second Manston ‘viability’ study ahead for Thanet
Thanet DC will spend up to £50,000 on a second study into the future of locally-based Manston Airport.
Councils and pressure group clash over tax
Campaigners have called for the ‘abolition’ of stamp duty despite pressure from councils for greater powers over tax to fund infrastructure.
Compensation order after defeat
Hastings BC has been ordered to pay compensation to a business after the authority shut down a pier over safety concerns.
Minister vows to ‘revitalise Scottish local government'
New Scottish local government minister Kevin Stewart has pledged to build on devolution of powers to councils and overhaul engagement with local authorities.
Authority pledges to uncover saga of £10.25m FC loan
Northampton BC has vowed to uncover how it was left chasing a £10.25m loan to a football club that went into administration.
‘Partial reset’ plan for business rate retention is mooted
A ‘compromise’ for how 100% business rates retention will work is close to being agreed by local government representatives.
‘Change attitude to risk,’ says CIPFA
It would be ‘unacceptable’ if local government shied away from taking risks on commercial activities ahead of reform in 2020, a finance expert has said.
Housing benefit claims make authorities overspend their funding allocations
More than 120 councils have overspent their government funding allocation to support the housing of benefit claimants.
Capital spend warning for councils
Auditors have warned the risks from shifting council investment in capital programmes must be better understood by the Government.
Spending on social care spirals by 25%
Council spending on social care services has spiralled by as much as a quarter since 2012/13, data shared with The MJ has revealed.
Chancellor branded ‘biggest threat to devolution’
Greater Manchester’s interim mayor Tony Lloyd has branded chancellor George Osborne the ‘biggest threat to devolution’ faced by local government.
Key cities need fiscal freedom to reverse under investment
Full fiscal autonomy must be extended to key cities if the Northern Powerhouse is to turn back five years of under-investment, a report has warned.
Authority’s plan to save UK steel sector
Newcastle City Council has produced a four-point plan on how to save the UK steel industry.
Leeds to manage Syrians’ relocation
Leeds City Council has been approached by the Home Office to help manage an eight-year relocation programme for Syrian refugees across Yorkshire and Humber.