General Election
Unions criticise 'unnecessary' pay offer delay
The three unions representing council workers today criticised ‘unnecessary delays’ after local government employers failed to make them a pay offer for 2020/21.
Who do public servants owe their loyalty to?
Public servants' role in stewardship of institutions, publicly defining fact and sharing advice, needs updating to take account of our very different world, argues Graeme McDonald.
Government social care plans to be published this year - Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson today vowed to publish the Government’s long-awaited social care plans this year.
The metro mayor elections will indicate how much politics has realigned
The collapse of Labour's Red Wall should give the Conservative mayors of Tees Valley and the West Midlands cause for optimism, says Andrew Carter - but the most interesting mayoral election to watch could prove to be in Greater Manchester.
Councils still shine after a decade of austerity
CIPFA's new resilence data tool is a 'dataset, not a crystal ball', says Heather Jameson. It shows that despite a decade of cuts, councils have weathered the storm. Wouldn't it be great to see how well they could do when the sun shines, she adds.
EXCLUSIVE: 100% business rates retention could be back on agenda
Full retention of business rates could shoot back up the agenda as part of a long-awaited Government review, The MJ understands.
Jenrick hails 'biggest multi-billion pound spending increase in a decade'
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed what he describes as the ‘biggest multi-billion pound spending increase for councils in a decade’.
Electoral system 'creaking more than ever'
The electoral system is ‘creaking more than ever,’ chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, Peter Stanyon, has said.
Can elections staff go on?
Electoral administrators delivered despite - not because of - the current system, writes Peter Stanyon – and he says reform and harmonisation are urgently needed to improve the way we run elections in the UK.
If wholesale restructuring is done it must happen in a manner fit for the 21st century
Jan Britton wonders what lies ahead for local government - and asks if the Government, ‘with its unlikely northern soul and mayoral roots’ will be the one to genuinely deliver on devolution.
Counties are key to unleashing the entire country's potential
David Williams says Boris Johnson’s Government has been elected on a domestic pledge to ‘level-up’ the ‘left-behind’ parts of the country, and, in taking his agenda forward, it has a ready and willing partner in counties.
‘We cannot keep relying on one-off emergency funding’
Those of us who rely on social care, care for family members who do, or will need care and support in the future, need three things from the new Government, says ADASS president Julie Ogley.
First and foremost we need clarity on finance
Getting ‘Brexit Done’ should open up an oven-ready settlement for local government to implement real change, says chief executive of APSE Paul O’Brien.
Fair redistribution must play a continuing part in council funding
SIGOMA chair Sir Stephen Houghton trusts ministers will ‘recognise the key role that councils must play in their ambition for a united and equal nation’ - and Government should commit to supporting the same level of service across the country.
Mayors press for action to fulfill election promises
Newly-won Conservative constituencies in the Midlands and northern England have begun lobbying the Government for commitments to further devolution and capital spending.
What will Boris do next?
The new Government will need the sector’s help if it is to stand a chance of delivering the party’s ambitious domestic agenda, says Graeme McDonald. 'But the sector can only help if it is operating from a position of strength'.
We want to work with new Government 'to help deliver on our shared ambitions'
One of Boris Johnson's key priorities must be to publish the provisional Finance Settlement quickly - and the LGA agrees with the Government's position that we need to get away from ‘Whitehall knows best’, says chairman Cllr James Jamieson.
Ringing the changes
Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran on how the Johnson government might seek to tackle the challenges brought by its unexpectedly broad mandate.
Breaking down that segregation (a little)
It has not been the best advertisement for our democracy and most people will be glad it’s all over, writes Dan Corry. So why does he think the General Election process always does some good?
And a High Sheriff making the decree
Salt, grit, battery-powered lamps, heaters and jeeps are essential kit at this time of year in the Cotswolds. However Kathy O'Leary is pleased to report that no nativity plays have been harmed in preparing for this election.