General Election
Move forward on business rates admin
The Government has taken the next step towards modernising the administration of business rates to ‘make them fit for the 21st century’.
Labour would create local government commission
Labour would create a new commission that would allow councillors to influence every decision that affects local authorities if they won a General Election.
Gwynne could reverse Northamptonshire reorganisation
Shadow local government secretary Andrew Gwynne has suggested a Labour Government could reverse reorganisation in Northamptonshire if his party won a snap General Election.
Social care Green Paper delayed again amid Westminster turmoil
Turmoil in Westminster has piled further uncertainty onto local government, with the social care Green Paper the latest casualty.
Suspended Sellgren leaves council
A council chief executive suspended for nine months after an independent review into problems faced by voters at the General Election has left the authority.
Benefit cap inquiry reopened
MPs have reopened a Parliamentary inquiry into the impact of the benefit cap after an initial study fell victim to 2017’s snap General Election.
ADASS: Green paper to 'jump-start' care finance debate
This summer's social care green paper will 'jump-start' the debate on making the sector financially sustainable, minister Caroline Dinenage has pledged.
Don't take a Gambia on voting!
Diary welcomes the news that The Gambia has re-joined the Commonwealth after almost five years outside the institution.
Labour looks to overhaul 'not fit for purpose' council tax
Labour is considering a range of options to fund local authorities as part of an overhaul of a council tax system ‘not fit for purpose,’ the shadow communities secretary has said.
Devolution framework 'almost done'
The Government's new devolution framework is 'almost done,' communities secretary Sajid Javid has insisted.
Elections review: Leader resigns after two officers suspended
Newcastle-under-Lyme BC’s leader has stepped down a week after the council’s chief executive and monitoring officer were suspended following an independent review into issues faced by voters during the General Election this year.
Chief executive suspended after elections review
Newcastle-under-Lyme BC has suspended its chief executive and monitoring officer after an independent review into problems faced by voters at the General Election.
Javid rejects DCLG capacity fears
Communities secretary Sajid Javid has rejected accusations that his Whitehall department is too stretched to handle devolution bids.
Javid considers gradual introduction of 100% rates retention
The move to 100% business rates retention could happen gradually, communities secretary Sajid Javid has revealed.
Let’s get back local government’s voice
Ahead of the Labour Party Conference, Nick Forbes outlines some of the challenges for local authorities and his hopes for the party in this next phase of governnance
Andrew Gwynne: We need a DCLG that will fight for the sector
As the Labour conference gathers in Brighton, Shadow communities secretary Andrew Gwynne talks to Dan Peters about devolution, fiscal change, and his hope to represent the sector in a far more positive light.
‘Whitehall is committed to full rates retention’
Local government minister Marcus Jones has insisted the Government is ‘still fully committed to proceeding with’ business rates retention.
Electoral staff ‘need improvement’
Plymouth City Council must take ‘urgent action’ to improve the quality of its elections staff after it omitted counting more than 6,000 General Election votes, a review has urged.
Jones: Government fully committed to rates retention
Local government minister Marcus Jones has insisted the Government is ‘still fully committed to proceeding with’ business rates retention.
LGA calls for government to lift planning fees freeze
Councils have ramped up their calls for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to meet its commitment to allow them to increase planning fees by 20%.