Business
Dilnot in hypothecated tax warning
The solution to the social care funding crisis should emerge from general taxation and means-testing reforms instead of hypothecated taxes, Sir Andrew Dilnot has warned.
Brokenshire writes: Lifting the barriers to building
Councils are the ‘sleeping giant’ of our housing system, as James Brokenshire explains, and now is the time to remove the barriers preventing them from delivering the homes their communities need.
Damning report on leadership diversity
‘Little progress’ is being made in increasing the diversity of senior leadership in local authorities, a report published today has found.
Council pension funds rebel at Ryanair meeting
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has joined a shareholder rebellion against the re-election of budget airline Ryanair’s chairman.
Lincolnshire to renew troubled Serco contract
Lincolnshire CC is to renew its support services contract with Serco for a further two years.
Whitehall demands in-year cuts to improvement programme
The sector’s ability to respond to crises such as a care provider failure could be hit after Whitehall demanded cuts to a key improvement programme, senior councillors have been warned.
Councils facing Microsoft price hike
Some councils are facing Microsoft price increases of up to 100%, The MJ understands.
Pension funds welcome Sports Direct changes
Local government pension funds have welcomed senior changes at retailer Sports Direct after piling pressure on the company.
Seeing is believing
Jessica Mullinger says that despite having more access to information in front of us than ever before, the art of hiring the correct person to an interim role still requires a lot of discernment and a little bit of intelligence.
Council leader faces opposition to chief executive choice
Lancashire CC’s leader is seeking to push through his preferred candidate for chief executive in the face of criticism from the Labour opposition.
Riordan calls for social media abuse clampdown
One of local government’s most active Twitter users has urged social media sites to act to eradicate abuse aimed at public figures.
Councils urged to clamp down on radical speakers
Councils will be expected to ensure venues and resources they own do not provide a platform for extremists, a new Prevent strategy toolkit issued by the Home Office has urged.
Full steam ahead for the West Midlands
In a recent round table discussion organised by The MJ and energy and services company ENGIE, local authorities from across the West Midlands debated the challenges and opportunities ahead. Heather Jameson reports on the conclusions
The five steps to joint working
Prof Malcolm Morley gives his views on how to make joint working situations – whether in the public or private sector – work for you.
Combined authority chief to leave
The chief executive of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has announced his departure after just over a year.
File on arrested four passed to prosecutors
Police have finally submitted a file of evidence to prosecutors in relation to four local government figures more than a year after they were arrested.
Council has taken 'too long' to improve
Reading Council has improved services for young people leaving care since an inadequate Ofsted inspection two years ago.
£1bn housing scheme fails to invest
The housing sector’s changing ‘regulatory and funding backdrop’ has been blamed for the failure of a £1bn scheme to invest in a single project.
Council accounts held up by LOBO challenge
Auditors have delayed a full opinion on Weymouth and Portland BC’s finances pending the outcome of a High Court challenge against Barclays.
Unison to step up pressure against outsourcing
The country’s biggest public sector trade union is to step up pressure on outsourcing as it plans for the impact of Brexit.