Brexit
Lawyers call for post-Brexit procurement rule changes
Legal experts have added their weight to calls for changes to procurement rules after Brexit.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils warn Whitehall of Brexit risks
Councils this week started to formally inform Whitehall about their Brexit risk assessments amid fears of crime spikes, public demonstrations and food bottlenecks.
When it comes to our cities there are reasons to be cheerful
There is little doubt that 2019 will be an historic and turbulent year, but there are some great opportunities for our cities to drive radical change and play a key role in post-Brexit Britain, says Cllr Judith Blake
Let's work together to solve the housing crisis
Brexit hasn't caused our divisions, but it has laid them bare, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in housing, says Jo Miller. We must do something different to ever have a chance of being a society that works for all, she adds
NLGN welcomes minister's support for devolving tax-raising powers
Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry’s support for devolving tax-raising powers to the regional level has been welcomed by the New Local Government Network (NLGN).
EXCLUSIVE: Whitehall to ramp up Brexit engagement
Whitehall is to ramp up the frequency of its engagement with councils on Brexit as the prime minister faces a crunch House of Commons vote.
For UK cities cryptocurrency is the post-Brexit remedy
CEO of technology company Colu Amos Meiri argues that a blockchain-based cryptocurrency can be the basis for encouraging socially-minded behaviour across cities, 'the very kind of actions required to heal a post-Brexit UK'.
Spending Review must reward the importance of districts
In a post-Brexit world it will be vital to refocus on the importance of district councils in supporting residents and local economies, says John Fuller
Brokenshire: No community will be left behind with Brexit
With only a few months to go before we officially leave the EU, secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Brokenshire says 'its time to unite and prepare to make the most of the opportunities on the horizon'.
No deal Brexit trial attracts 89 lorries
Kent CC and the Department for Transport today tested plans for managing heavy congestion in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Councils need more funds for Brexit preparations, Brokenshire warns Treasury
Local government will need more funds to deal with the Brexit fallout, according to a leaked letter penned by communities secretary James Brokenshire.
The UK's most successful municipal port has been sensibly planning for a no-deal scenario
Portsmouth International Port is discussing similar contingency plans to Dover through the region's local resilience forum. Port director Mike Sellers says this is to ensure it is in the optimum position to handle changes after 29 March.
Government: Start preparing for no-deal Brexit
Ministers are ‘ramping up’ planning for a no-deal Brexit as the prospect becomes more likely.
Social care Green Paper delayed again amid Westminster turmoil
Turmoil in Westminster has piled further uncertainty onto local government, with the social care Green Paper the latest casualty.
More hard graft ahead next year
Brexit, improved system leadership and fixing the divisions between Whitehall and local government are just a few of the issues to tackle in order to put local services back to the top of the agenda, as outgoing SOLACE president Jo Miller reflects
Like Mariah Carey, it may be prudent to not want a lot for Xmas this year
Despite a number of minor successes, the position of the sector as it approaches the end of the year remains precarious, according to Abdool Kara
Does the People's Vote clamour herald a move to more referendums?
Electoral events are, of course, at the cornerstone of our democracy. But Louise Round asks if it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
We need to talk about finance
Piali Das Gupta wants central Government, caught up with Brexit, to start paying attention to the voice of local authorities who argue that the practical needs of the people are not being met.
Confronting the graph of doom
Tracie Evans wonders if this is the right moment to remind everybody that 'we in the sector predicted in the graph of doom that 2019/20 would be the year when the money would start running out...'
Farewell to a tumultuous year
It’s fair to say this has been a year of extraordinary events and extreme inertia, writes Heather Jameson. As finances were squeezed the resilience of local government has been tested to its limits – and it has started to crumble in places.