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Martin Ford

Martin Ford

Articles by Martin Ford

Call to tackle children's services 'postcode lottery'

By Martin Ford | 27 May 2021

National standards are needed to tackle variation in the quality of children’s services, the Hou...

Somerset districts in poll controversy

By Martin Ford | 26 May 2021

District leaders have struck back following criticism over an error in their reorganisation vote.

Pension funds urged to play levelling up role

By Martin Ford | 26 May 2021

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds could provide a £16bn boost to levelling up the coun...

Fears over local audit future after new regulator is confirmed

By Martin Ford | 26 May 2021

The announcement of a new regulator for public sector audits has failed to quell widespread fears...

Income gap widest in deprived areas

By Martin Ford | 25 May 2021

The Office for National Statistics found the most deprived council areas have the biggest dispari...

COVID-19 travel advice a 'recipe for confusion'

By Martin Ford | 25 May 2021

Councils say they were left in the dark over Government advice warning against travelling to area...

Council's Grenfell recovery costs top £400m

By Martin Ford | 24 May 2021

Kensington and Chelsea LBC has spent more than £400m in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Council companies lose £600k

By Martin Ford | 21 May 2021

North Yorkshire CC’s commercial ventures are facing a loss of more than £600,000 following a year...

Computer glitch held back local contact tracing

By Martin Ford | 21 May 2021

Software error in the national system has delayed councils in tracing hundreds of potential COVID...

Jenrick questions 'confusing' reorganisation poll

By Martin Ford | 21 May 2021

Voting is underway in a postal ballot organised by district councils on competing unitary authori...