Title

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Warning for councils after wall collapse

Local authorities have been warned they must not ‘contract out’ the safety of new public buildings in a new report from the Scottish Parliament.

Local authorities have been warned they must not ‘contract out' the safety of new public buildings in a new report from the Scottish Parliament.

An inquiry was launched after 17 schools were forced to close in Edinburgh following the collapse of a wall.

The report, published by the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee, concluded lessons must be learnt for the entire public sector to ensure new buildings are safe.

It found some local authorities had minimised their responsibilities for the safe design and construction of schools.

Committee convener, James Dornan, said: ‘There needs to be a change in thinking in some local authorities.

‘Responsibility for public safety must be taken seriously and it not something that can be contracted out.'

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Forging the strategic planning skills that power devo

By Pooja Agrawal | 31 October 2025

The Government expects every regional body and strategic authority to prepare Spatial Development Strategies. Despite stretched planning resources, Pooja Agr...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Fragmented councils threaten English Devolution Bill success

By Simon Goacher | 30 October 2025

Simon Goacher says the rise of Reform UK and the shortcomings of the Government’s Devolution Bill risk derailing the promise of local empowerment, replacing ...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

The move to digital networks: preparing local authorities for a connected future

By Professor Sultan Mahmud | 29 October 2025

BT is working with local authorities across the UK to prepare for one of the most significant network changes in decades: the move from the ageing copper tel...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Building Safety Regulator delays prompt rethink

By Neil Merrick | 28 October 2025

Elements of building safety could be removed from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and returned to local authority control.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman