News
Northamptonshire library closures ruled 'unlawful'
The decision to close 21 council-run libraries in Northamptonshire was made unlawfully, a court has ruled.
Social housing paper dismissed as 'small step'
The Government’s long-awaited social housing Green Paper has been dismissed as a ‘small step’ towards improvement by the Conservative-led Local Government Association.
Birmingham faces grievance complaint amid senior staff restructure
Birmingham City Council has launched a senior management restructure as part of the new chief executive’s efforts to improve the authority.
Councils resist peer challenge offer
The Local Government Association (LGA) is facing resistance as it struggles to persuade reluctant councils to undergo a corporate peer challenge.
'Knock-on effects' warning over LEP deadline
A policy expert has added his criticism to the ‘overly-hasty’ September deadline for reformed Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) geographies and warned of ‘knock-on effects’.
Doubts over strategy to end rough sleeping by 2027
New measures aimed at ending rough sleeping within a decade do not go far enough, councils have warned.
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Opinion
Children's services: the lives behind the numbers
Behind talk of crisis and budget pressures are children, families and our workforce. It is time to speak loud about it, says Robin Tuddenham.
Spending and tax figures continue to show imbalance
Michael Burton says the latest public finance figures are the latest evidence for greater investment and devolution outside of London and the South East
Fostering opinion
Rachel Dickinson reacts to recent Government activity reviewing fostering activity across the country and says there is more to be done if local authorities are going to break the systemic issues plaguing the care sector.
Reforming two-tier arrangements
Reorganisation has proved controversial in many parts of the country. James Maker suggests pooling new and existing powers at the strategic level could offer a more politically attractive devolution agenda in county areas.
A green paper for change
The delay in providing a strategy for social care and wellbeing is impacting not just the care sector, but other key services around the country. To promote discussion the LGA has produced its own green paper looking beyond social care, as Izzi [..]
Where next for devolution?
Gill Morris reflects on a panel discussion looking at the future of the devolution agenda and what policy measures need to be examined.
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Best Practice
30 hours make the difference
Staffordshire CC is one of eight authorities piloting the Department for Education’s 30 hours scheme from September 2016. The scheme is proving successful in helping get back into work or take on more hours, writes Mark Sutton.
Analysis
Any port in a storm?
As the risk of a ‘no deal’ crash-out of Europe intensifies, councils want Westminster to clarify plans to ease pressures on Britain’s port towns and stabilise local finances. Mark Conrad reports.
Private sector
Wealden holds crisis talks with Kier
A crisis meeting has been held between Wealden DC and its waste collection contactor, Kier over its ‘unacceptable’ service.
Lancashire to re-run public health tender
Lancashire CC has agreed to re-evaluate its tendering process for public health services after a court ordered the council to set aside its agreement with Virgin Care.
Enfield to procure development partners
Development partners for Enfield LBC’s flagship Meridian Water project are to be appointed after members voted to press ahead with the scheme under council control.