EU
Council preparations for Brexit 'hampered' by Whitehall
Whitehall’s lack of focus and co-ordination ‘hampered’ councils’ preparations for Brexit in the run-up to April 12, a Local Government Association (LGA) report has said.
Municipal bond grants launched
Grants to help councils invest in a new type of municipal bond for funding environmentally-friendly, low-carbon infrastructure projects have been launched.
English Devolution Bill calls dismissed
The Government has dismissed calls for an English Devolution Bill in the first Queen’s Speech after the UK has left the EU.
EXCLUSIVE: Violence could delay EU poll
Polling at the EU elections may be suspended if rioting or open violence breaks out today, returning officers have been told.
EXCLUSIVE: Security fears after candidate addresses published
Security concerns have been raised after a loophole forced councils to publish the home addresses of candidates standing in the EU elections.
£100m EU elections bill even if poll cancelled
The UK will still be landed with a close to £100m bill for the EU elections - even if they were cancelled before May 23, The MJ understands.
Further delay to devolution drive
The Government’s repeatedly-delayed devolution framework will not be published until after Brexit, minister Jake Berry has admitted.
EXCLUSIVE: Government to hear Brexit legal base fears
Continuing concerns around the future legal base of regulatory work after Brexit will be raised at the next EU exit local government delivery board, The MJ understands.
Elections staff left asking questions on EU poll payments
Elections staff remain in the dark over the payments they will receive if the EU polls are cancelled.
Data demand over settled status bids
Councils have refused to give up after their request to access Home Office data on application rates for settled status was knocked back.
EXCLUSIVE: Concern over councils' ability to cope with polls
Council chiefs have raised concerns with Government about the sector’s capacity to run EU elections so close on the heels of local polls.
EXCLUSIVE: Call for inspection pause in case of Brexit hit
Council chiefs have urged Whitehall to be ready to ease pressures on the sector for up to six months if Brexit threatens to stretch capacity.
Row over devolution delay
Councils and the Government are at loggerheads over who is to blame for a 17-month delay for a decision on a devolution growth deal.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitehall warned as Brexit tensions grow
‘Early signs’ of escalating community tensions and hate crime related to Brexit have been reported to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), The MJ has learnt.
Councils told to seek no-deal Brexit legal advice
Local authorities will have to seek their own legal advice on how to handle personal data in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Government has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Frustration mounts on Brexit legislation list
Frustration is growing as the Government stalls on requests to provide a comprehensive list of secondary legislation affecting councils that needs to pass before Brexit.
Will Brexit be bad – or worse?
Were the UK to rely on World Trade Organisation rules as a basis for trade, economic growth would be 7.7% less than it would otherwise have been. Keith Burge evaluates the inevitable impact this would have on councils.
Government Settled Status scheme 'will cope' with surge
The Government has insisted it will be able to cope with up to three million people applying for Settled Status by the end of 2020.
£100m cost of EU elections if Brexit delayed beyond June
The UK could be landed with a £100m bill to host EU elections separately from May’s local polls if Article 50 is extended beyond June, the Government has been warned.
MHCLG yet to agree no-deal Brexit escalation process for care provider failure
Marsham Street has still not agreed its ‘escalation process’ in the case of a no-deal Brexit causing social care provider failure, a leaked document has revealed.