County Councils Network
EXCLUSIVE: Questions over taskforce purpose
Local government associations have called for ministers to define the purpose of a new taskforce ahead of April’s launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
District hopes of controlling £500m fund dashed
District hopes to be put in control of handing out the new £500m household support fund have been dashed after a ‘bizarre’ government decision.
Counties in council tax warning
County leaders have warned council tax bills would have to rise by a fifth over three years to get close to eliminating their deficits.
Let’s ditch ‘panel game’ funding
Cllr John Merry talks to Ann McGauran about how Key Cities are faring as they look towards recovery, and says he’s approaching the White Paper on levelling up with an ‘open-minded spirit’.
Local leadership needs a vote of confidence from the Treasury
In the run up to the Spending Review, the County Councils' Network will be continuing to highlight 'how imperative well-resourced councils are to the levelling up agenda', says Simon Edwards.
Hughes hints at multi-year funding settlement
Junior minister Eddie Hughes has attempted to reassure councils that a multi-year funding settlement may be approaching.
CCN chair's devo pledge
The new chair of the County Councils’ Network (CCN) said unitarisation is ‘dead’ as the Government promises deeper devolution with more mayoralties.
County deals are ‘absolutely the answer’
Tim Oliver takes over this week as the new chair of the County Councils’ Network. He talks to Ann McGauran about devolution deals – and says unitarisation is ‘pretty much dead in the water’.
Government needs to better clarify the responsibility of councils in net-zero
A report from the County Councils' Network finds that a city-centric focus to climate funding and policies has been to the detriment of counties, says Nicola Beach.
Delivering the prize
Nottinghamshire CC has been ‘beckoned through the door’ to express an interest in an early devo deal, says council leader and MP Ben Bradley. What does he hope could be achieved for the county and the wider regional economy? Ann McGauran reports.
There's a lot to play for when it comes to delivering devolution
While Government has provided a strong steer on the basic principles of county devolution deals, it’s now down to local areas to build on this guidance and bring forward proposals in collaboration with partners, argues James Maker.
Reorganisation: modernise or be damned
The distraction of reorganisation may be a step too far. Or it may be the big bang needed to transform local government, says Heather Jameson.
Is Boris in a jam on devo?
Boris Johnson’s levelling up speech was designed to kick-start devolution, quash the critics and calm the blue wall. Heather Jameson asks, did it succeed?
There's never been a better time to consider the future role of councils
We now have a golden opportunity to build on the lessons learned during the pandemic and elevate our organisations so they are 'even more interventionalist, proactive and relevant come 2030', says Nicola Beach.
Johnson: Bring your devolution plans to me
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for local leaders to take their devolution plans to him in a keynote speech from the West Midlands this morning.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils push back over reserves raid threat
Council chiefs have pushed back as the Treasury eyes up the sector’s reserves in the run up to this year’s Spending Review, The MJ understands.
Counties can do the strategic and the local
The strategic abilities of local government to deliver national priorities locally and the real localism counties have shown could be a positive pandemic legacy, says Cllr Tim Oliver.
Special needs deficits to grow to £1.3bn in two years
A ‘spiralling deficit’ in special educational needs services (SEN) is expected to grow to an ‘unmanageable’ £1.3bn in just two years’ time, county councils have warned.
The levelling up White Paper must have proposals to match counties' ambitions
CCN’s member councils are putting in train ambitious place-based economic recovery plans, 'but they remain stunted by a lack of devolved powers available to metro mayors as well as significantly less funding', says Simon Edwards.
Surrey council leader to chair County Councils Network
Cllr Tim Oliver said recovering from the pandemic, rebuilding economies and tackling climate change would be priorities.
