News
EXCLUSIVE: Violence could delay EU poll
Polling at the EU elections may be suspended if rioting or open violence breaks out tomorrow, returning officers have been told.
Councils urged to consider social value more strategically
Local authorities should assign a senior leadership role focused on delivering social value at both an operational and political level, a new report suggested today.
Lack of culture change warning after new homelessness law
Councils have not undergone the ‘culture change’ needed to implement the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA), a charity has said.
Norfolk and Essex face multi-million pound funding gaps
Norfolk CC’s leader met local government minister Rishi Sunak as his authority attempts to close a budget gap of £40m next year.
Public finances remain robust
The public finances continue to remain robust despite uncertainty over Brexit, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Councils to play 'key' role as radicals return
Local authorities will play a ‘key’ role in assessing potentially radicalised individuals and families returning from conflict zones such as Syria, a senior police officer has said.
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Opinion
What is local government really worth?
Does all the ambition for local government come down to core service and self-sustainability, asks Heather Jameson. Where is the full funding, fiscal freedom and the local discretion?
Ministers need to be mindful of the poll tax debacle
That an 'apparently esoteric' local government finance issue could bring down a powerful Prime Minister such as Margaret Thatcher should be taken seriously by today's government, says Michael Burton.
Crafting a solution for our sector’s funding
What the whole local government sector needs most is ‘stable, future-proofed planning’, says Rob Whiteman, and a one-year delay to the outcome of the fair funding review could be part of this process.
Reviews are a chance for us to come together
The County Councils’ Network (CCN) has released a new report on councils’ finances. Simon Edwards says it shows all councils need a significant injection of resources, and that its members face ‘a particularly severe set of circumstances’.
Why we need to talk openly about social care
Why has Somerset CC let the BBC spend 10 months following the work of its adult social care teams? Stephen Chandler says it’s because as a society we need to talk about what we want for ourselves and our loved ones when we end up needing care.
Local government has a crucial role to play in maximising crowdfunding’s potential
Jonathan Bone says maximising the opportunities available through crowdfunding will require a 'different kind of local government with a different culture, ways of working and relationship with communities’.
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Best Practice
Creating a compassionate council
Robert Moran’s vision for Elmbridge is to ensure compassion runs through all of the work of the council – benefiting both residents and employees
Analysis
The biggest challenge in local government
Last week, James Brokenshire announced the reorganisation of Northamptonshire CC – a year later than was originally planned. Heather Jameson speaks to chief executive Theresa Grant and her commissioners on progress at the crisis-hit county.
Private sector
Suez wins £210m Somerset waste contract
Suez has picked up one of the largest waste contracts in the country after being named as preferred bidder for Somerset Waste Partnership’s overhaul of collections.
Councillors urge London borough to 'change mind-set' on procurement
Greenwich LBC has been pressed to ‘change its mind-set’ in procurement by its members as it overhauls its policies.
Aberdeen breached procurement laws, audit finds
A city council breached procurement laws and may have spent public money on contracts without proper authorisation, an audit has found.