Political battle over National Care Service
April 26, 2024
Competing visions of the future of social care have been set out by Labour and the Conservatives as they prepare for a General Election.
News
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Bristol officers accused of 'misleading' over development
April 26, 2024
Officers at Bristol City Council have been accused of providing ‘misleading’ advice linked to a decision to approve a controversial 28-storey development.
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LGA lobbied over income tax devolution amid White Paper preparations
April 22, 2024
The Local Government Association’s (LGA) White Paper should make the case for councils to receive a share of income tax, sector experts have urged.
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MPs sign off indefinite delay to no-fault evictions ban
April 25, 2024
The Renters (Reform) Bill, which now includes an indefinite delay to the long-awaited ban on ‘no-fault’ evictions, passed its third reading in the Commons yesterday.
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10,000 council staff on long-term sick leave
April 25, 2024
Nearly 10,000 staff members working in councils across England are currently on long-term sick leave, freedom of information requests have revealed.
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Social housing tests could heavily impact London
April 25, 2024
London boroughs are likely to be most heavily impacted by the Government’s proposed UK connection test for social housing.
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New ADASS president calls for community focus
April 25, 2024
The new president of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADASS) has called for a community, rather than a hospital, focus for the sector.
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Sunak's defence spending could hit council budgets, says IFS
April 24, 2024
The Prime Minister’s announcement of extra defence cash could hit public sector budgets further, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS).
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Councils propose shared chief executive
April 24, 2024
Two Welsh local authorities have proposed appointing a shared chief executive.
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Thanet deputy chief cleared of misconduct
Allegations of misconduct against the deputy chief executive of Thanet DC have been dropped, The MJ understands.
There is no quick fix
The announcement of £2.5bn of ‘exceptional financial support’ for councils will fail to fix local government’s finances, a senior sector figure has said.
Council hands police file on £1m pay-outs
A file relating to allegedly unlawful exit payments to managers at Northumberland CC has been handed to police.
Call for council tax overhaul
Work should begin now on the ‘long-overdue’ revaluation of all domestic properties in England to bolster local government finance, a think-tank has argued.
Council set to halve sick pay
Southend Council is planning to halve the amount of sick pay given to staff in a move Unison has described as ‘callous’.
Finance settlement set for £500m boost
The Local Government Finance Settlement is to expected to be boosted by £500m, following pressure from sector lobbying and MPs.
From the archive
Soap Box
A recent report by a local government watchdog will serve as a further reminder to council chief officers of the dangers of developing too close a relationship with the political administration...
Lawyers stand to gain
Budget restrictions and financial pressures have seen increasing demands being placed by many councils on their legal teams to deliver efficiencies, while maintaining high professional standards, says Geoff Wild.
Landlords report demands greater power for councils
Councils should be given the power to recoup housing benefit payments from rogue landlords, according to leading MPs.
