News
Scots government 'unlikely' to create equal pay body
Scottish Government ministers are unlikely to establish a national equal pay unit, despite calls from the trade union that led to strikes over the snowballing issue.
Wirral assurance panel ‘no longer required’
Wirral MBC’s Independent Assurance Panel (IAP) has officially stood down after declaring it was ‘no longer required’.
Asylum seekers moved from RAF Wethersfield due to incomplete safety checks
The Home Office has moved 70 people away from an asylum accommodation site after it failed to complete necessary safety checks on time.
Watchdog tells Falkirk to confront 'difficult decisions'
Falkirk Council faces ‘difficult decisions’ to bridge a budget gap of tens of millions, according to Audit Scotland.
Betts backs Homes England review
Parliament’s housing committee chair has backed calls to remove some responsibilities from Homes England so the agency can focus on affordable housebuilding and regeneration.
Struggles continue for scandal-hit council contractor
A council contractor previously at the centre of a residential care abuse scandal has continued to struggle since it closed the sites.
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Opinion
Help councils unlock their true power
With LGA plans for a local government White Paper gathering pace, Lord Bichard reiterates the importance of councils being afforded a genuine partnership with central government – something he feels the next government must establish as a matter of [..]
Ready or not?
As a new regulatory regime gets underway for social housing, Peter Hubbard and Claire Ward offer five tips to support public and private sector registered providers.
Transforming social housing: The task ahead for council teams
Now that the new social housing regulatory regime is in place, housing teams are embracing the challenge as an opportunity for positive change despite the immense pressure councils face, says Caroline Green.
Today’s choices, tomorrow’s impact
May’s elections will be extremely consequential for the local government sector, and the impact of voters’ choices should be examined not just as a straw in the wind for the General Election, says Simon Kaye.
Putting finance on the devolution to-do list
Seeking real fiscal autonomy for local government at times feels as elusive as the end of a rainbow, says Alison Griffin.
The will to win in Wilts
Wiltshire Council was the setting for the latest round of the Local Government Challenge, which focused on ways to support residents through the cost of living crisis. Viola Owembabazi reports.
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Best Practice
Doing things differently
In the face of never-ending pressures councils are continuing to seek out ways to do things differently. But beneath the inevitable positivity is there a negative side to differentiation which could weaken prospects for councils? Paul Marinko [..]
Analysis
Healing the sector’s crisis with respect
As veteran leader Ruth Dombey steps down at the Lib Dem’s longest-held council she makes a plea for a ‘grown-up’ relationship between Whitehall and town halls. Paul Marinko reports.
Private sector
The importance of brand in the search for talent
Steve Wilson of Commercial Services Group says councils can start to build a true talent pipeline if they can develop their own employer value proposition.
Greening public services
GLL’s Chris Hebblewhite reveals progress on the co-op’s five year sustainability strategy.
The war for leadership talent
Are we winning the war or losing the battle? Toni Hall and Julie Towers share their experience as the pattern of leadership recruitment within the sector ebbs and flows