The MJ - your free ebook
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we want to do all we can to support you, so we will provide The MJ as an enhanced ebook here every Thursday, completely free, for the duration of the crisis.
News
Ministers promise radical reform after child deaths review
Ministers have promised radical improvements to data sharing across children’s services after two critical reports this week identified problems led to child deaths.
Social care reforms to cost £26bn
New research has found social care reform costs will exceed Government estimates by £10bn but ministers have rebuffed calls for more funding.
Safeguarding fears raised over Homes for Ukraine scheme
Senior council officials want greater powers to safeguard Ukrainian refugees amid fears revised national guidance still leaves some people vulnerable.
Equal pay challenge warning
‘Huge equal pay challenges in many areas’ could be sparked if employers are forced to retrospectively delete pay points, chief executives have been warned.
‘Significant weaknesses’ found by Birmingham audit
A report has revealed ‘significant weaknesses’ in services and a ‘lack of stable leadership’ at Birmingham City Council.
Government to strengthen community role in planning
The Government has made clear it intends to strengthen the role of communities in new planning legislation.
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Opinion
Making the green decision pay off
In the week of the ADEPT Spring Conference, new president Gareth Williams says that while some are saying that we can’t afford net zero, we need to think more boldly and take more risks.
Calculating the cost of care
Local and central government must prepare for the significant workforce challenges that will be presented by adult social care charging reforms. Daniel Sperrin and James Maker explain.
Queen’s Speech: ‘levelling up’ let down
Sir Stephen Houghton says we must not see blame being levelled on those areas who are not able to meet the levelling up mission targets – 'when it is in fact that local areas are not being given a penny by the Government to be able to reach them'.
Keeping risk away
Kirsty Stanners explains how the Government is planning ways to prevent councils taking on high and disproportionate levels of debt.
Thick document; thin vision
Dr Jonathan Carr-West says it’s not that the measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill are bad in and of themselves, but it feels like a missed opportunity to ask bigger questions about the function and form of local government.
Let’s work together on the most important agenda of our time
Paul O'Brien says policy on permitted development rights 'continues to work against a co-ordinated approach at local level on reshaping place and making developers contribute to this process'.
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Best Practice
Putting people at the heart of place
As Ilkley is named the best place to live in the UK, Jason Longhurst says Bradford City Council’s work with the town is part of a district-wide strategy that benefits people across the area.
Analysis
Post-pandemic planning for the core cities
Chief executives and directors from the UK’s biggest cities debated their challenges and opportunities in a round table discussion organised by Core Cities UK and The MJ, supported by BT. Paul Marinko reports.
Private sector
Regulator finds ‘competition concerns’ with Veolia and Suez merger
A merger of the waste management firms Veolia and Suez could lead to a loss of competition and an increase in costs for local authorities, a regulator has warned.
‘Challenge accepted’
Paul Bingham discusses how Birmingham City Council embraced its housing challenges with bold obligation
Internet Explorer 11 retirement – what does it mean for you?
Dougie Belmore, Chief Payments Officer of Pay.UK, looks at the risks that might arise when Microsoft retires Internet Explorer 11 next month
