News
EXCLUSIVE: Government to hear Brexit legal base fears
Continuing concerns around the future legal base of regulatory work after Brexit will be raised at the next EU exit local government delivery board, The MJ understands.
Select committee chair urges scrapping of social care Green Paper
A senior backbencher has called for the social care Green Paper to be scrapped.
Performance monitoring rap for Stirling
Stirling Council must have better processes for evaluating and reporting its performance so it can identify how to improve, a report by the Accounts Commission has said.
EXCLUSIVE: LEPs challenge Government performance review
Frustrated local enterprise partnerships (LEP) have demanded changes to the Government’s annual performance review (APR) process.
Hopes for legislative backing behind new code
An overhaul of financial management in councils could be enshrined in law, according to a consultation that stakeholders must respond to within days to influence.
Government misses self-imposed Easter reorganisation deadline
Preparations for local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire are moving ahead despite councils continuing to wait for a formal Government decision.
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Opinion
Local government must lead the way on change
Britain post-Brexit won't be a mythical land like Game of Thrones, says Heather Jameson. But there will be much to do. Why wait for Whitehall to come up with the answers when so many solutions lie at a local level?
Candidates – don’t forget the local
Voters in local elections are seeking tangible action on the ground, argues Bob Neill, and local candidates recognising this reality will be rewarded for it at the ballot box
Localised council tax support schemes six years on
Stuart Adam and Thomas Pope of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) estimate a quarter of the additional council tax liability created by cuts to council tax support is not being collected, causing problems for households and councils.
Pledges focus on what matters most to Londoners
London Councils’ Pledges to Londoners set out the aspirations the 32 boroughs and the City of London have agreed to work on together to improve the lives of all the capital’s residents, says Peter John.
We need sustainable funding
We are lurching towards schemes where we can deliver something good or extra just because there is a new 'one-off' pot of cash that can be exploited, says Adele Taylor.
Why the Public Value Framework matters
Ben Odams asks if the Public Value Framework, released the same day as the Spring Statement, could be the rebooted version of 2010’s Total Place agenda.
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Best Practice
We’re getting in the Zone
Cllr Darren Rodwell explains how Barking & Dagenham is providing positive diversionary activities and role models by opening a Future Youth Zone.
Analysis
Committing to youth wellbeing
Councils are being ‘forced to divert the limited funding they have left away from preventative work. But with levels of knife crime rising, will the Government put more money into targeted youth services responses? Ann McGauran reports
Private sector
Galliford Try wins Meridian Water contract
Galliford Try Partnerships has fended off competition to win the first contract for Enfield LBC’s £6bn Meridian Water development.
Councillors grill Capita over planning service
Directors of an outsourced planning service have been taken to task by councillors.
Allerdale agrees private model for stadium construction
Allerdale BC is turning to the private sector to build its new stadium in Workington.