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Martin Ford

Martin Ford

Articles by Martin Ford

West Sussex to retain control of children's services

By Martin Ford | 01 April 2022

The Department for Education had ordered the establishment of a company to run children’s service...

Section 106 agreements to be scrapped

By Martin Ford | 31 March 2022

Proposals for a standard Infrastructure Levy to replace the current system will be included in an...

Nine councils to receive £300m in SEND deficit deals

By Martin Ford | 31 March 2022

The authorities have reached agreements with the Government to wipe out their special educational...

Data issues hampering councils' refugee response

By Martin Ford | 30 March 2022

Councils are struggling to prepare for the arrival of refugees due to a lack of quality data, MPs...

Young refugees to provide fresh challenge for councils

By Martin Ford | 29 March 2022

The local government sector is braced for the challenge of protecting a wave of children fleeing ...

Call for tougher regulation of exempt housing

By Martin Ford | 29 March 2022

Councils have shared concerns some providers of ‘exempt’ accommodation are exploiting the sector ...

'Concern' over aslyum transfer scheme

By Martin Ford | 28 March 2022

Kent CC has said it is taking too long for asylum-seeking children to be transferred to other aut...

Pay 'not number one feature' in staff retention

By Martin Ford | 28 March 2022

Culture and opportunities for career advancement are more important to council staff than pay, pe...

Counties warn of school transport crisis

By Martin Ford | 25 March 2022

Hikes in fuel costs are meaning local authorities are having pay providers significantly more, ac...

Future Forum North: 'lack of alignment' in healthcare reforms

By Martin Ford | 24 March 2022

A ‘frenzy’ of Government healthcare announcements has resulted in the fragmentation of integratio...