Councillors
LGA: Councils need £6bn more
Councils need as much as £6bn more to cover the additional costs and losses incurred as a direct result of COVID-19, analysis of the latest financial returns by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found.
Tories lose borough following resignation
A Conservative councillor has resigned from the party over the actions of Downing Street advisor Dominic Cummings, erasing the party’s grip on West Devon BC.
EXCLUSIVE: LGA split over worker bonus
A cross-party agreement that the Local Government Association (LGA) would lobby for a coronavirus payment to staff was ditched after senior councillors blocked the move, The MJ can reveal.
Watchdog urges faster improvement at Argyll and Bute
The council has been told it must ‘significantly increase’ the pace of improvement by the Accounts Commission.
Zoom with a view
One of the silver linings of this pandemic has been the opportunity Zoom meetings have provided to get a glimpse inside people’s homes.
Treasury criticised for 'attack' on council sovereignty
A Treasury crackdown on local authorities using cheap finance to buy commercial property for rental income is an ‘attack on the sovereignty of councils,’ a senior councillor has said.
Joint chief executive for districts
Two districts hope to save more than £15m over 10 years by appointing a joint chief executive and forming a strategic alliance.
Minister in fresh parks plea
Local government minister Simon Clarke has urged English council leaders to make sure parks remain open during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chief executive payment decisions 'not lawful'
‘Proper procedures’ were not followed and decisions to make payments to a council chief executive were ‘not lawfully made,’ an independent investigation has found.
Council chief resigns amid allowance probe
Surrey Heath BC’s chief executive has announced her resignation from the council amid an independent investigation into an additional duties allowance paid to her.
Councils given power to hold meetings remotely
Local authorities will be allowed to hold public meetings remotely by video or telephone under new powers introduced today.
Video conferencing first at council meeting
A council used software to help decide key planning applications in what is believed to be the first meeting of its kind in the country.
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.
Local government audit deadline extended
The deadline for local government financial audits has been pushed back by two months.
Councils respond to coronavirus outbreak
Councils have closed, events and meetings have been cancelled and some politicians are in self-isolation in a bid to stem the spreading of the coronavirus pandemic.
Plans drawn up for remote meetings
Plans to let local authorities conduct their council meetings remotely are being considered by the Government.
Row over York chief departure
A row has erupted over the departure of York City Council’s chief executive.
Joint chief executive makes sudden departure
The retirement ‘with immediate effect’ of the chief executive of Staffordshire Moorlands DC and High Peak BC, Simon Baker, has been announced in a joint statement.
Greater Birmingham LEP: Let councils decide boundaries
A West Midlands local enterprise partnership (LEP) has told ministers the decision on future boundaries should lie with councils.
Controversial Stoke budget rejected in council vote
Councillors are deadlocked over the budget just a week ahead of the national deadline.
