News
Chief executive axe concerns prompt rethink
The leader of Oxfordshire CC has announced he look will again at scrapping the role of the chief executive, following questions from councillors.
Welsh Assembly given incentive to devolve income tax
Prime minister David Cameron has hailed today’s St David’s Day agreement as ‘one of the biggest transfers in power in the history of Welsh devolution’.
NHS chief claims £6bn Greater Manchester integration deal greatest ever
Health chiefs have hailed today’s formal announcement of plans to devolve £6bn pooled health and social care budgets in Greater Manchester as ‘the greatest integration and devolution of care funding since the creation of the NHS in 1948’.
Ministers don't trust England with fiscal freedom powers, rages Betts
Chair of the communities and local government Committee, Clive Betts, has railed against the Government’s unwillingness to consider devolving to English city and county regions the same tax-raising powers granted to Scotland and Wales.
Brighton and Hove fails to agree budget
Members of Brighton and Hove City Council have failed to agree a budget at their annual budget meeting for the second year running.
Federation calls for health and care to be integrated with housing
More than 100,000 affordable care-ready homes for older people will need to be built over the next 15 years, the National Housing federation has warned today.
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Opinion
A long time coming
Soaring costs and demographic changes mean the decision about health and care can no longer be postponed, making Manchester’s deal truly groundbreaking and set to lead the way to real integration across England, writes Michael Burton.
Decisions, decisions...
Dan Corry gets a glimpse into the mind of local councillors, the daily choices they face and draws Hope from the results
The next government needs to hit the ground running after May
If political parties have yet to articulate just how they intend to tackle the great issues facing the nation, then they are unlikely to hit the ground running, writes Michael Burton,
How about addressing the real issues of the day?
As much as I am a supporter of democracy, sometimes I look at the choices made by the political powers that be and I am utterly baffled, writes Heather Jameson.
Spring cleaning the accounts
Demystifying the complexity of local authority accounts is a necessary piece of de-cluttering, claims Adele Taylor.
Muddling through devolution
A highly uncertain election and more austerity mean the future remains unpredictable and challenging for most councils, surmises Ben Page.
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Best Practice
The gift of guidance
Robyn M O’Connor shares best practice advice from the Early Intervention Foundation on mentoring to prevent gang and youth violence.
Analysis
No action is no option
Recommendations by the Independent Commission on Local Government Finance pull together current thinking on the finance regime into a strategic plan for the next 10 years as well as offering a blueprint for the next government, writes Heather [..]
Private sector
Salford teams up with leisure firms at Community Stadium
The national pub retailer Greene King has said ‘cheers’ to a new development at the AJ Bell Stadium, which is being managed by a joint venture involving the Peel Group and Salford City Council.
Council plans to choose commissioning model
Northamptonshire CC has announced plans to outsource a series of services, as an exclusive poll by The MJ and the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) revealed almost a third of councils are also going down the same route.
Galliford Try wins contract to build authority’s new HQ
Galliford Try has won the contract to build Northamptonshire CC’s new headquarters in Northampton.