Business
Council leader calls for financial help
Kirklees MBC’s leader has called for a ‘comprehensive package of financial assistance’ for workers and businesses after the Government increased the coronavirus isolation period.
Leisure outsourcer asks staff to take 'career break'
A major leisure services provider has come under fire for asking workers to take ‘unpaid career breaks’.
Local government was poorly prepared for pandemic, report finds
A decade of spending cuts, staff shortages and poor contacts with Whitehall meant local government was poorly prepared to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, a report from the Institute for Government think-tank has said.
Councils urge extension for grants support scheme
Fresh calls have been made for councils to be allowed to dole out to businesses the £1.6bn unspent from the Government’s small firms grant funds.
Council services to move to joint venture
Derbyshire CC’s cleaning, caretaking and building design services will be transferred to joint venture companies run with Suffolk CC from next month.
Government in attempted grants cash grab
Fresh calls have been made for councils to be allowed to dole out to businesses the £1.6bn unspent from the Government’s small firms grant funds.
Business rate revaluation postponed for two years
Ministers have postponed a revaluation of business rates until April 2023 and issued consultation on the wider rating system.
Sector faces 'battle royal' over reorganisation
Local government has been warned it faces a ‘battle royal’ with ministers appearing determined to force through reorganisation.
District leader hits out against 'super-council'
A district council leader has rebuffed the idea of a unitary council for North Yorkshire covering a population of more than 600,000 people.
Leicester mayor criticises business support U-turn
Leicester City Council’s mayor has criticised an apparent government U-turn over the provision of extra financial support to businesses during its extended coronavirus lockdown.
Building back greener growth needs a joint effort
It seems that even the business lobby is now on board with devolution, says Heather Jameson - and now 'we will need national, local and regional government working with the private sector to tackle the climate change and the economic crises ahead'.
CBI backs 'turbo charged' devolution
The business community will now back ‘turbo charged’ devolution, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) told a Core Cities seminar last week.
Councils in local virus data call
Councils have called for the Government to go further after it finally started to publish more coronavirus testing data.
UN expresses 'serious concern' over cladding
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on adequate housing has expressed ‘serious concern’ that 600,000 people in England continue to live in blocks with dangerous cladding.
Mitie and Interserve Support Services to merge
Outsourcer Mitie has proposed to merge with facilities management firm Interserve Support Services by the end of the year in a £271m deal.
Bonds agency lost more than £1m
The UK Municipal Bonds Agency (UKMBA) lost more than £1m in the two years up to the end of November 2019, the company’s accounts have revealed.
RSA calls for investment in regional banks
Councils should invest in shares in their regional bank, a charity has urged.
Rugby's Norburn to leave sector
Rugby BC’s most senior officer has announced his departure more than 30 years after joining the council.
Government extends rules to stop high street evictions
New guidelines have been put in place to stop high street businesses from being evicted over the summer.
Councils urged to re-appraise in-sourcing
Local authorities have been urged to look at what they could do better than outsourcers in the wake of the collapse of Carillion.
