Dan Peters
Chiefs offered 2.5% pay increase
Local government employers have proposed a 2.5% pay rise to council chief executives and senior officers in a ‘full and final offer’.
LGA: Care Act hope has faded
Only around two thirds of councils are confident of being able to meet all their legal duties under the Care Act by next year (2025-26).
EXCLUSIVE: Four councils continue to dodge corporate peer challenge
Four councils could be at risk of Government intervention as they dig in over not undergoing a corporate peer challenge (CPC).
Oflog league tables journalist defends article
The journalist who wrote the controversial league tables story based on data compiled by the Office for Local Government (Oflog) has defended the article.
National Insurance devolution call
A ‘small share’ of around 5% of locally-generated National Insurance (NI) revenue should be devolved as part of tax-sharing pilots with leading combined authorities, the Institute for Government (IfG) think-tank has argued in a report.
EXCLUSIVE: Killian lobbied to halt work with watchdog
Sector figures have been lobbied to withdraw engagement and co-operation with the local government watchdog after a national newspaper used its data to rank councils, The MJ understands.
Child sexual abuse review to inform new strategy
Findings of a ‘robust review’ of Walsall Safeguarding Partnership’s strategy after the largest child sexual abuse case investigated by local police will now be published, it has emerged.
Government cash call for council housing firms
Central Government should provide about £750m funding to help local government establish housing firms in temporary accommodation hotspots, an expert has suggested.
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.
UPDATED: Tories hold Tees Valley despite heavy losses
Ben Houchen retaining the Tees Valley mayoralty for the Conservatives proved to be the party's only glimmer of hope among a bleak set of local election results.
Council apologises over FOI delays
Walsall Council has apologised for delays to its response under the Freedom of Information Act.
LGA lobbied over income tax devolution amid White Paper preparations
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.
Council to announce chief after capacity criticism
East Devon DC is hoping to announce its new chief executive early next month after peers said senior level capacity was currently ‘limited’.
Rayner to be investigated by police after electoral law accusations
Police have launched an investigation into whether Labour’s shadow local government secretary Angela Rayner broke electoral law a decade ago after Tory allegations.
Government ignores sugar levy calls
The Government has ignored Local Government Association (LGA) calls for the sugar levy to be spent by councils to tackle physical inactivity.
LGA to launch 'foundation programme' for new chiefs
The Local Government Association (LGA) is to introduce a ‘significant new foundation programme’ for newly-appointed chief executives after a ‘successful’ pilot.
Five million could be disenfranchised by voter ID, polling finds
Five million voters could be disenfranchised by the Government’s new voter ID rules at the General Election, first-of-its-kind polling has suggested.
Reform author pushes back on devo criticisms
The author of a report that proposed devolving NHS England’s £168bn budget and most services to local government has hit back at criticisms.
Next Government urged to look at devolving air passenger duty
The leader of a Labour council in the shadow of Heathrow Airport has urged the next Government to look at devolving air passenger duty (APD).
Transparency calls over monitoring officer departure
Salford City Council’s opposition leader has called for transparency over a settlement agreement The MJ understands was paid to its departing monitoring officer.