DLUHC
Councils frustrated by Whitehall siloes, says chief
Whitehall’s siloed approach to city centre renewal has led to ‘real frustration’ from councils, slowed down projects and increased costs, a local authority chief has warned.
Angry LGA leaders write to Gove over Oflog league table story
The Office for Local Government’s (Oflog) ‘lack of action to correct misleading information’ in rankings compiled by The Times ‘calls into question its ability to inform,’ senior sector politicians have told communities secretary Michael Gove.
Gove could launch police inquiry for Birmingham
Reports the levelling up secretary could send a police chief in to investigate financial mismanagement in Birmingham City Council have resurfaced on the eve of local elections.
Call for powers to back up funeral director inspections
Councils have said they ‘urgently’ need more powers and resources after being tasked with inspecting funeral directors.
What next for unitarisation?
Ahead of the Mayoral elections, Steve Leach and Colin Copus ask if the proliferation of combined authorities has snookered the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ unitary authorities policy.
districtview
Perhaps the sector would benefit from clear KPIs for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, including about when it will reform the local government finance system, says Ian Miller.
The key to a sustainable workforce
At a time when candidates are in high demand and often can call the shots, a well-defined employer value proposition that contains a robust learning and development programme is the key to boosting retention – as Mark Bearn explains.
Minister rules out Oflog role on audit
A minister has quashed suggestions oversight of audit should be handed to the Office for Local Government (Oflog).
Whiteman criticises lack of prevention focus in productivity demands
Some ministerial productivity demands are ‘populist nonsense’ more likely to appear in election campaigns than ‘plug material gaps’ in council finances, an expert has warned.
There’s real value in our arts
Council support for arts and culture is at serious risk amid the latest funding crisis. But we must find a way to sustain the arts as a remedy to our deepest challenges, says Alison Mckenzie-Folan.
Councils hit with new productivity demands
Ministers have demanded councils improve their productivity in the same week as the Government quietly published a report revealing Whitehall makes the sector less efficient.
Ministers to make more changes to debt rules
Ministers are poised to impose immediate further changes to local government debt rules – including stricter in-year reporting of unpaid loan repayments due to town halls.
Cyber criminals target councils in tactics shift
A fresh warning for councils to be vigilant against cyber attackers has been issued after a shift in criminal tactics.
Homes England urged to strengthen relations with local government
An independent review of Homes England has urged officials to 'build closer relationships' with councils.
Reform should not be detached from wider purpose
The role of the centre and its interface with regions and localities must shift as devolution matures, writes Jessica Studdert.
Councils should get traffic light grading, say accountants
Oflog should grade councils using a traffic-light-style ranking system, chartered accountants have suggested.
Oflog co-design promises have been broken, say councils
Ministerial promises to ‘co-design’ the Office for Local Government (Oflog) with the sector have been broken, councils have claimed.
Support for Zane's Law gathers momentum
Two more councils have backed calls for greater transparency over contaminated land and waters following the death of a seven-year-old boy.
Oflog chair steps down
Lord Morse has announced he is stepping down as interim chair of the Office for Local Government (Oflog)
Ministers stand firm on tax bands
Ministers have reiterated to MPs there are ‘no plans’ to revalue council tax bands due to the cost and disproportionate impact on lower-income households and pensioners.
