Brexit
EXCLUSIVE: Dawes in 'internal focus' warning
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) top mandarin has warned council chiefs that the department will have an internal focus for a while, The MJ understands.
Only devolution can protect public services from years of Brexit chaos
Andrew Laird argues that only a renewed and rapid drive to devolve power to cities and local areas can protect local public services from years of Brexit inspired central government inaction and chaos.
We need a more nuanced conversation around trust
Ben Page says that while trust in central Government has fallen in both Britain and the US since the 1960s, the problem is not new, or acute. It is chronic - and was there 'as money poured in under Blair' and is 'still there as money pours out'.
How can the financial settlement meet its deadline?
The clock is ticking on the countdown to publication of the financial settlement for 2020/21, says Michael Burton - but the timetable is 'spectacularly complex'.
Use Brexit to rewrite public sector procurement rules
A new paper from the New Local Government Network (NLGN) says Brexit should be used as an opportunity to rewrite procurement rules to put communities at the heart of commissioning.
Call for delay to finance system reforms
A group of London councils have called for the Government to delay its overhaul of the local government finance system until after Brexit.
EU funding replacement delay 'huge concern' for councils
Ongoing delays and uncertainty on the detail of a new scheme to replace EU funding is a huge concern for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
ADCS conference: Children's services are in the red zone
Children’s services are in the ‘red zone’ and could be ‘overwhelmed’ next year in the event of a one-year Spending Review, a senior director has warned.
Immigration minister says Government has 'learned the lessons from Windrush'
Minister of state for immigration Caroline Noakes says she has a ‘shared perspective’ with local government on the EU settled status scheme.
Lib Dem leadership hopeful promises devolution revolution
Liberal Democrat leadership hopeful Jo Swinson has said that if she is elected to the top role this summer ‘ we will oversee a devolution revolution’ .
Non-metropolitan councils need the power to tackle barriers to growth
The Post-Brexit England Commission’s final report has set out a prospectus to Government of ‘tangible, practical proposals’ with the potential to ‘make a difference to local communities quickly’.
Mid-sized cities should be Government’s automatic choice for tech impact pilots
Chair of the Key Cities Group Cllr Peter Box says mid-sized cities are ideally positioned to be the UK's automation pilot areas (AutoPilots)
What future for local services?
As public sector finance specialists prepare to attend CIPFA's annual conference in Birmingham this week, speaker at the event Graham Atkins says delays to the Spending Review mean councils must plan for more efficiencies.
Bringing in the changes
If the Government fails to adequately fund local government there is a real risk to the future financial viability of some services and councils, writes Mark Lloyd as the LGA annual conference gets into full swing.
Brexit and austerity blows threaten service delivery
Nearly half of local authorities say some councils will fail to deliver essential services over the next year, says PwC’s latest annual local government survey.
Banging on the Treasury’s door
The whole sector needs to get behind MHCLG to ensure it punches above its weight and ‘has the clout to bring home the goods’ from the Spending Review. And that means a few things, according to Bob Neill
UK councils step up their foreign trading links
Almost one in five (18%) UK councils are going abroad on a city-to-city basis to find investment and develop trading links – up from 12% in 2018, according to the PwC annual survey of local government.
Brexit should not be an excuse for avoiding domestic issues
The next PM should increase council funding, build homes where they are needed and improve urban transport, according to Andrew Carter.
LGA politics in a time of turmoil
As the sector descends on Bournemouth for the Local Government Association conference this week, the four political groups outline their priorities for the coming year.
Learning from the special relationship
Reflecting on insights from the USA, Lawrence Conway says there are key elements we need to address in the UK if we want to keep pace with the changing needs of society and business.