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Martin Ford

Martin Ford

Articles by Martin Ford

Familiar face to take reins at Redbridge

By Martin Ford | 26 February 2021

Lesley Seary is to return to Redbridge LBC to serve as its interim chief executive following the ...

Labour calls for council powers to intervene in high streets

By Martin Ford | 25 February 2021

Proposals for councils to take over empty shops and a ‘wholesale reform’ of business rates have b...

Councils to receive £400m to tackle COVID-19

By Martin Ford | 25 February 2021

The Government has announced funding of £400m for English councils to support COVID-19 test, trac...

Councils defend 'misunderstood' commercial investments

By Martin Ford | 25 February 2021

The Government’s clampdown on commercial investments has come under fire from councils.

Northumberland 'concern' over company finances

By Martin Ford | 24 February 2021

Northumberland Council is looking to exert more control over its wholly-owned property firm after...

Children's services face £824m budget gap

By Martin Ford | 24 February 2021

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has said the amount was required just ...

Easing the cash flow

By Martin Ford | 24 February 2021

Martin Ford looks at the reaction to the first set of capitalisation directions given to councils...

Delay in asking councils to track shielding people

By Martin Ford | 23 February 2021

The Government failed to ask councils for help contacting vulnerable shielding people for weeks a...

Fears of extra burdens from procurement proposals

By Martin Ford | 23 February 2021

New procurement rules could pile extra burdens onto councils, the Local Government Association (L...

Minister claims councils' financial issues due to investments

By Martin Ford | 23 February 2021

Commercial investments rather than a lack of central funding is at the root of councils’ financia...