Combined Authority
Combined authority expansion halted by ‘party politics’
The expansion of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has stalled after leaders failed to reach an agreement.
EXCLUSIVE: Shevlin suggests reorganisation alternative as rival bids threaten his council's future
A former chair of the District Councils’ Network chief executives’ group has suggested a radical alternative to reorganisation as battle lines are drawn around him.
Greater Manchester secures £65m lockdown fund
Mayor Andy Burnham has said he expects to get ‘at least’ £65m from the Government to support people affected by tier three coronavirus restrictions.
Call for Cobra meeting with regional leaders
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has pressed for a Cobra meeting with leaders from the English regions and devolved governments.
Rogers to retire next year
The Liverpool-born chief executive of the region’s combined authority has announced he plans to retire next September.
Councils plead for further devolution
Local authorities require more devolved powers to drive improvements in health and social care, MPs have been told.
EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dems raise reorganisation concerns
Lib Dem council leaders have raised ‘serious concerns’ with local government secretary Robert Jenrick about this autumn’s devolution and local recovery White Paper.
Row over lockdown easing
Political tensions have risen over the lifting of local lockdown restrictions in Greater Manchester.
Somerset districts publish reorganisation proposals
District councils in Somerset have proposed the creation of two unitary councils and a combined authority in the county.
A Greater Essex Combined Authority is as important as unitary government
A combined authority on the footprint of the Greater Essex boundary is the right way forward as it offers ‘a sense of identity and is large enough to be effective strategically and be taken seriously by Government’, argues Gavin Jones.
Combined authority first governmental body to join alliance
Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced that Liverpool City Region combined authority is the first governmental body in the world to join the wellbeing economy alliance.
MPs urge new approach to local lockdowns
Lockdowns of individual towns have been advocated by MPs in a row over the response to the coronavirus crisis in Greater Manchester.
Councils urged to take on data firms
Councils should acquire and make use of digital data for the benefit of communities and challenge the dominance of big tech companies, a new report has argued.
Rival plans for Lancashire reorganisation
Competing bids for the reorganisation of local government in Lancashire have been put forward by city and borough councils.
Former Chancellor calls for infrastructure devo deal
Former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling has called for all infrastructure projects below £500m to be managed by local or combined authorities.
Combined authority 'spending reserves like it's going out of fashion'
Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s chief executive has expressed doubts about whether his region would be able to cope with a second wave of coronavirus infections.
Lancashire's 15 leaders vote in principle for combined authority
Leaders of all 15 local authorities in Lancashire have voted for the principle of a combined authority and an elected county mayor.
PR strategist's hall of shame
Diary is inundated with press releases, speeches and blog posts on a regular basis.
The 2020 Public Services Commission: 10 years after
Ben Lucas and Dr Henry Kippin assess the work of the 2020 Public Services Commission. They also address how society can recover from the coronavirus crisis, and argue the need for a different economic model if we want to build back better.
Call to 'shore up' worst-hit local economies
The Government should ‘shore up’ the local economies worst affected by coronavirus before levelling up, the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) think-tank has said.
