The MJ https://themj.co.uk/news/rss The Municipal Journal (the MJ) is the online management journal for local authority business 234084 https://themj.co.uk/Council-hit-by-4.6m-employment-tribunal-payout/234084 Council hit by £4.6m employment tribunal payout A council that harassed and discriminated against one of its directors will look to appeal an ‘excessive’ £4.6m award for damages by an employment tribunal. 234083 https://themj.co.uk/Former-Cabinet-minister-laments-lack-of-planning-reform/234083 Former Cabinet minister laments lack of planning reform A former housing secretary has said the Conservatives’ lack of action on planning to speed up housebuilding may cost the party in the General Election. 234082 https://themj.co.uk/Slough-chief-to-stand-down/234082 Slough chief to stand down Slough BC’s chief executive Stephen Brown is to stand down, the authority has announced. 234079 https://themj.co.uk/Councillors-back-Greater-Lincolnshire-devolution-deal/234079 Councillors back Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal Proposals for a mayoral devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire have been approved by the three upper-tier councils. 234077 https://themj.co.uk/Leader-bullied-two-senior-officers-report-finds/234077 Leader bullied two senior officers, report finds A council leader’s behaviour towards two senior officers amounted to bullying, a report into a code of conduct complaint has found. 234073 https://themj.co.uk/London-borough-chief-to-stand-down/234073 London borough chief to stand down John Hooton has announced his departure after eight years as chief executive of Barnet LBC. 234072 https://themj.co.uk/Levelling-up-project-delays-astonishing/234072 Levelling up project delays ‘astonishing’ Parliament’s spending watchdog has found ‘astonishing’ funding delays and blind optimism have blunted the impact of levelling up projects. 234071 https://themj.co.uk/Structures-should-be-rationalised-Hoare-tells-DCN/234071 Structures should be 'rationalised,' Hoare tells DCN Council funding should have been reformed by now and structures need to be ‘rationalised’ the local government minister told the District Councils’ Network (DCN) conference. 234070 https://themj.co.uk/Four-day-week-council-decision-disappointing-and-arrogant/234070 Four-day week council decision 'disappointing and arrogant' South Cambridgeshire DC’s decision to continue with its four-day week is ‘disappointing and arrogant,’ local government minister Simon Hoare has said. 234068 https://themj.co.uk/Counter-extremism-faces-unprecedented-challenges/234068 Counter-extremism faces ‘unprecedented challenges’ The battle against radicalisation at the local level faces ‘unprecedented challenges’ due to a lack of funding, local authority leaders have warned. 234067 https://themj.co.uk/Cadman-steps-down-as-Birmingham-chief/234067 Cadman steps down as Birmingham chief Deborah Cadman is to stand down as chief executive of Birmingham City Council after almost three years at the council. 234066 https://themj.co.uk/Homelessness-inquiry-launched-by-NAO/234066 Homelessness inquiry launched by NAO The National Audit Office (NAO) has launched an inquiry into homelessness as the issue piles pressure on squeezed council budgets. 234065 https://themj.co.uk/Northumberland-has-further-to-go-/234065 Northumberland has ‘further to go’ Northumberland CC has ‘further to go’ despite progress on its improvement journey, a report has found. 234064 https://themj.co.uk/Welsh-council-tax-rises-finalised/234064 Welsh council tax rises finalised The average council tax rise for Welsh local authorities will be just over 8% next year. 234063 https://themj.co.uk/Jenrick-leads-new-charge-to-axe-nutrient-neutrality-laws/234063 Jenrick leads new charge to axe nutrient neutrality laws Former housing secretary Robert Jenrick is leading Tory calls for the Government to renew efforts to axe nutrient neutrality laws and boost house building. 234035 https://themj.co.uk/Judgment-day/234035 Judgment day Kent and Home Office face growing pressure over asylum-seeking children. 234033 https://themj.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE-No-pay-offer-until-after-local-elections/234033 EXCLUSIVE: No pay offer until after local elections Local government employers will not make a pay offer until after the upcoming local elections in May, The MJ understands. 234030 https://themj.co.uk/Childrens-services-commissioner-appointed-at-Tameside-/234030 Children's services commissioner appointed at Tameside A commissioner for children’s services has been appointed at Tameside MBC in the wake of a watchdog’s damning report. 234029 https://themj.co.uk/Adult-social-care-demand-reaches-unprecedented-high/234029 Adult social care demand reaches unprecedented high The King’s Fund’s annual social care report published today found adult care requests hit a record high of two million while costs for councils have outstripped inflation. 234027 https://themj.co.uk/Housing-emergency-council-calls-for-Whitehall-action/234027 'Housing emergency' council calls for Whitehall action A council that recently declared a housing emergency has written to six Whitehall departments, urging them to ‘take decisive action’ because the situation is deteriorating.