Best Value
Best Value inspections to examine debt concerns
Spelthorne and Warrington BCs are facing Best Value inspections amid concerns over debt levels at both authorities.
Commissioners to depart Liverpool
Commissioners at Liverpool City Council are to hand all remaining powers back to the authority and be replaced with an assurance and improvement board.
Auditors concerned by slow transformation
Scotland’s Accounts Commission is ‘extremely concerned’ by slow transformation at Moray Council, which faces a £31m deficit despite years of warnings to improve.
Two-year Sandwell intervention to end
Local government minister Simon Hoare has today confirmed that Whitehall’s two-year intervention at Sandwell Council will end.
Slough intervention could continue after November - Government
Whitehall intervention in Conservative-led Slough BC could continue beyond November, the Government has suggested.
Tower Hamlets faces Best Value inspection
A Best Value inspection is to take place at Tower Hamlets LBC, the Government has announced.
Council delays four-day week decision
South Cambridgeshire DC’s decision on whether to permanently adopt a four-day week has been put on hold as it awaits the Government’s next move.
Revised Best Value notices for two authorities
Two authorities have been issued with revised Best Value notices by ministers after it was found more improvement work was required.
Four day week clampdown a 'slippery slope'
A senior local government figure has struck back at Government efforts to curb the adoption of a four-day working week by councils.
Peer review hears 'concerns' over four-day week
Peers have found ‘concerns’ over the introduction of the four-day working week at South Cambridgeshire DC.
The trouble with Oflog
Council senior officers are broadly united in their view that Oflog will not provide warning of local authority failure or improve performance. But what do five experts from the sector think about the Government’s new assurance watchdog?
What can councils expect from intervention?
With a unique perspective on intervention, Jess Crowe offers up some advice for councils faced with commissioners.
Bumpy ride for Brum
Mark Conrad looks at what form intervention at Birmingham City Council is likely to take.
Gove announces five-year Brum intervention
Communities secretary Michael Gove today announced a five-year Government intervention at Birmingham, with sources claiming he rejected a role for a senior Labour figure.
The problem with Best Value
The Government’s new Best Value draft guidance targets the right issues, but in too many areas it suggests a search for quantifiable answers to qualitative questions, says Barry Quirk.
Learning the stark lessons from a crisis
Slough Council’s sacked chief executive Josie Wragg reflects on ways to predict organisational instability and the risks of a tragic outcome as pressures on local government’s top officers increase. Ann McGauran reports.
Be bold and better
Oflog may be the Government’s plan for improvement, but Cllr Abi Brown suggests the local government family has a better option – and it should shout about its achievements.
Middlesbrough agrees to independent improvement advisory board
Middlesbrough Council has agreed to have an independent improvement advisory board for a year from October, The MJ understands.
Poor leadership is key indicator of potential failure
Chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Rob Whiteman, says draft Government guidance on well-performing councils fails to mention member development and leadership training.
