Consultation
Fresh calls for standards code sanctions
Fresh calls for meaningful sanctions on badly behaving councillors were made this week after the Local Government Association (LGA) unanimously approved a model code of conduct.
Foresight group finds 'lack of strategy and shared plan'
‘Siloed and isolated action has been proven to fail again and again’ in the country’s response to coronavirus, a debrief by a cross-government review has warned.
PSAA seeks to increase audit fee role
The body responsible for overseeing audit fees has proposed a new approach under which it will play a greater national role.
Report calls for government to help stretched local decision-makers
Ministers must act to ease the worries of stretched local decision-makers amid rising concerns about their role, a cross-government report has urged.
Frustration bubbles over wait for Brexit bonanza
The Government runs the risk of ‘levelling up everywhere at rock bottom’ as uncertainty continues to reign over funding for the regions months after Brexit.
LGA backs mandatory council role in migrant children scheme
Council leaders have backed a government suggestion that the national transfer scheme for unaccompanied migrant children should be compulsory for local authorities.
Power to the people
Waltham Forest launched its first Citizens’ Assembly on how to stop hate. Rhona Cadenhead explains what she learned from the process – and what she would have done differently.
Union calls for redundancy consultation pause
Croydon LBC has been urged to pause its consultation on mass redundancies by trade union Unite.
CIPFA calls for strengthening of council borrowing rules
Legislation governing the rules on council borrowing should be strengthened, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) said today.
Supporting more democratic, responsive urban planning and design
In one of a series of essays on how the wisdom of citizens could support councils in managing cities after COVID-19, Peter Baeck and Sophie Reynolds look at the urban planning and design process - and share inspiring examples from across the world.
Helping local councils make their towns and cities smarter
People are using digital tech to connect, engage with and shape their town or city by talking to street objects. Tiernan Mines explains.
Now the clapping has stopped the listening needs to start
John Knight says COVID-19 has given citizens a much sharper focus on the local services they value and need. It’s time for councils to open a conversation with residents on what they want for the future, he believes
The Future of Local Government – no way back
The findings of a survey on the future impact of COVID-19 on councils provide an opportunity to consider ways to level up how services are delivered, says John Knight.
COVID-19 and consultation – Can it be online-only?
Does COVID-19 end consultations? The simple answer is ‘no’, according to Laura Thornton. But she says consideration needs to be given to mitigation measures that ensure consultation is fair.
Audit scale fees frozen
Audit scale fees for 2020/21 have been frozen though there could still be rises for individual councils ahead.
EXCLUSIVE: No Whitehall standstill despite coronavirus
Whitehall officials have insisted that they want to make progress with other government business despite the coronavirus crisis.
Gateshead to look at bring housing back in-house
Gateshead MBC is to formally consult on proposals to bring its housing services back in-house.
EXCLUSIVE: Ministry to look at easing sector burdens
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) officials have said they will look at further easing the burdens on the sector amid the coronavirus crisis.
Call for growth deal to cover funding gap
A £3bn growth deal is needed to avoid a gap in the delivery of capital projects while the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is introduced, the organisation representing local enterprise partnerships (LEP) has said.
Districts call for 'more robust' audit procurement
District councils have called for a ‘more robust procurement process’ as an increasing number of auditors shift away from their tendered prices.