County Councils Network
Countywide unitaries ‘could save £3bn’
Replacing two-tier counties with one unitary authority could deliver almost £3bn savings over five years, according to research published by the County Councils Network (CCN) today.
Green recovery and growth should be the golden thread for counties
Peter French says the devolution White Paper provides 'an opportune moment for the Government to empower places and give counties the powers and funding they need to level-up and ensure everyone everywhere has a bright future'.
Fears for small unitaries over Clarke's reorganisation shake-up
Existing small unitaries could be at risk in the looming reorganisation shake-up after the Government failed to offer assurances about their future.
CCN steps back from backing 'radical' shake-up
The County Councils’ Network (CCN) will hold back from calling for historic boundaries to determine the entire local government map in the coming reorganisation shake-up, The MJ understands.
Call to scrap two-tier local government system in rural areas
The ‘confusing' two-tier model of local government should be abolished and replaced with single unitary councils, a report has argued today.
A place-based approach to economic recovery
According to the latest analysis commissioned on behalf of the County Councils Network, counties are the most vulnerable councils to the economic impact of COVID-19. Paul Dossett argues they should be at the forefront of government plans to level up
We need an entirely new approach on care
increased technological advances mean that in the future care is far more likely to be provided in people’s homes, says Jonathan Rallings. He argues that we need to create a system which can evolve to meet these more sophisticated needs.
Williams: I'll accept whatever it takes to get a county unitary
The leader of Hertfordshire CC has conceded he would accept a directly-elected mayor as the figurehead for a county unitary in order to secure reorganisation.
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 warning after £63m handed to counties
Help for families struggling to put food on the table will be delayed due to ‘needless extra red tape in distributing funding,’ district councils have warned after ministers handed counties control of a £63m fund to support the most vulnerable families.
LGA shies away from reorganisation 'fight back'
The Local Government Association (LGA) has shied away from calls for it to launch a ‘fight back’ against reorganisation though senior members criticised any top-down approach.
Fresh reorganisation offensive leaves districts quaking
The County Councils’ Network (CCN) has launched a fresh offensive to rip up the local government map as the country emerges from the shadow of coronavirus.
Counties could be forced to issue Section 114 notices this year
If predictions in Grant Thornton's report on county finances fall anywhere close to the actual financial outturn, a significant number of councils will be forced to reduce costs, and as a last resort issue Section 114 notices, says Tom Foster.
Give councils the powers and funds to transform their societies
As counties begin to move out of the most stringent lockdown measures, CCN member councils will be starting to set out bold visions for their areas, says Simon Edwards.
Funding the long road to recovery
The County Councils Network has set the 'income guarantee' that is crucially needed to address lost income streams at £5bn initially, says Anthony May - but the additional costs of coronavirus will still pose a medium-term challenge, too.
Fresh funding row brews
Another row was brewing this week over how much councils have spent on coronavirus and how much the Government will cover.
Councils given £300m and key tracking role
Councils in England will be handed £300m by the Government as they are given a central role in driving forward testing and tracing.
Call to release ‘trapped’ troubled families funding
Bureaucracy threatens to hold up cash needed to support vulnerable children, the County Councils Network (CCN) has warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Government considers bypassing councils to get cash to care providers
The Government is considering bypassing local authorities and channelling extra funding directly to care providers to ease cash flow concerns, The MJ understands.
Councils call for £5bn 'income guarantee'
England's largest councils are calling on the Government to provide a £5bn 'income guarantee to avoid them having to declare insolvency during the coronavirus pandemic.
