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Laura Sharman

Articles by Laura Sharman

Ombudsman flags housing waiting lists 'backlog'

By Laura Sharman | 13 October 2021

The high number of families trying to join councils’ housing waiting lists has been highlighted b...

Former local government secretary Brokenshire dies aged 53

By Laura Sharman | 08 October 2021

Tributes have been paid to former local government secretary James Brokenshire after he died at t...

Croydon to get directly-elected mayor

By Laura Sharman | 08 October 2021

Croydon LBC will be run by a directly-elected mayor after the vast majority of voters backed the ...

Councils must be at heart of levelling up, report argues

By Laura Sharman | 04 October 2021

Councils must be at the heart of the Government’s levelling up agenda, a new report has argued to...

Local services face £8bn funding black hole by 2024, councils warn

By Laura Sharman | 01 October 2021

Council tax will have to rise by more than a quarter in the next three years to cover the shortfa...

Devolution should be the default option, say MPs

By Laura Sharman | 01 October 2021

Government should consider devolving greater powers in housing, health, planning and education, a...

Social care system is 'levelling down,' analysis warns

By Laura Sharman | 30 September 2021

The quality of social care is worse in the most deprived areas, undermining the Government's leve...

Ministers urged to ensure council staff have access to fuel

By Ann McGauran | 28 September 2021

Ministers have been urged to introduce emergency measures to ensure local government workers cont...

Call to give care staff priority access to fuel

By Laura Sharman | 28 September 2021

Ministers have been urged to introduce emergency measures to ensure social care staff can get fue...

Social care plan 'contains far too little detail,' councils warn

By Laura Sharman | 27 September 2021

Implementing the Government's cap on care costs will be an 'enormous undertaking' for councils, t...