News
Auditors in fees increase warning
Auditors have warned a number of councils that their audit fees for 2019/20 could be more than one-fifth higher than they were expecting.
NAO to probe one-off Government funding pots
The National Audit Office (NAO) is to probe the effect of the Government’s shift towards one-off and short-term funding initiatives.
Councils appeal for reorganisation to cross county lines
Lancaster City Council, South Lakeland DC and Barrow BC have cautioned against sticking to ‘arbitrary’ county borders in local government reorganisation.
Second Yorkshire LEP succumbs to Government overlap pressure
A second Yorkshire local enterprise partnership (LEP) has bowed to government demands and agreed to reshape its geographical remit to remove overlapping boundaries.
Council approves EastEnders planning deal
A planning first that enables changes to be made to the set of BBC soap EastEnders without seeking formal permission could be followed by others.
Poorer areas to lose 'hundreds of millions' under proposed changes
Former Labour stronghold areas are to lose millions of pounds under the fair funding review, analysis by Local Government Association's Labour group has found.
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Opinion
How to make a citizens’ assembly work for you
Want to commission a citizens’ assembly? Here, three councils say ‘go for it’. But there’s a lot to think about – and above all, you need the right issue say Sarah Owens, Isobel Wade and James Moody.
Council owned properties must be part of the climate emergency response
Current energy efficiency delivery ‘at least for domestic properties, is at an all-time low’ says chief executive of Community Energy England Emma Bridge.
A plan for social care is finally coming. What should be in it?
Having a clear view about the outcomes sought is key to drawing up a new plan for social care - and it should be developed with the sector and with people with lived experience, say Paul Burstow and Ewan King.
Getting districts ‘match fit’ for the global stage
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) annual conference in Warwick will provide a golden opportunity to shape our post-Brexit future, says Cllr John Fuller.
‘There can be and will be no complacency’
Joanne Roney says that while addressing past failures is ‘very necessary’, we must not lose sight of ‘how radically our approach to tackling child sexual exploitation has been strengthened’ since Operation Augusta.
Let’s tell a new story
Graham Allen says a focus on social care being solely about getting people out of hospital only diverts attention from keeping as many people as possible away from unnecessary admission.
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Best Practice
Unblocking the blocks
Reading has seen a 15% decrease in delayed discharges of care compared to last year. Seona Douglas outlines the key approaches she believes have made a difference.
Analysis
Lessons for digital change from the new unitaries
Nine months after the creation of two new unitary councils in Dorset, what have been the lessons from implementing change programmes, especially digital change? Chief executives discussed the issue at a round table debate hosted by The MJ and BT.
Private sector
Nottingham in bid to 'stabilise' energy company
A new management team has been installed at Robin Hood Energy and governance of council-controlled companies is being overhauled after the company was threatened with having its licence revoked.
Defending our communities in the digital age
It is now possible to put cyber defence on the front foot; you don’t need to have seen the type of attack before to trap it and kill it, says Dr Andrew Larner.
Council insources 'unsustainable' care service
Bath & North East Somerset Council has decided to bring in-house adult care services following the termination of an ‘unsustainable’ outsourcing contract.