Greg Clark
Councils face asset sale clampdown
Communities secretary Greg Clark is writing to councils today to confirm a tightening of rules under which authorities could previously sell assets to companies they control.
Slough's financial challenge 'unprecedented'
Commissioners at Slough Council are set to be given powers over recruitment after finding it was unable to turn around its finances quickly enough.
BCP in finance talks with ministers
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is in talks with the Government as it attempts to balance its books.
The familiarity of uncertainty
With the re-emergence of Greg Clark, Heather Jameson assesses the short and long-term prospects of the levelling up agenda.
Paper shortage could undermine snap election
A snap General Election caused by turmoil at the top of the Conservative Party could be undermined by a shortage of paper needed during ballots, election officers have warned.
Same issues, new interventions and little progress
Global pandemic and cost of living crisis aside, last week’s Local Government Association conference in Harrogate felt remarkably familiar, says Heather Jameson
Clark: Reorganisation opportunity has come and gone
The opportunity for wholescale local government reorganisation has come and gone thanks to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ‘political headwinds,’ former local government secretary Greg Clark has said.
Prince Harry and the Industrial Strategy
Prince Harry is a firm favourite at MJ Towers.
Industrial Strategy snubs councils
Business secretary Greg Clark has snubbed councils and empowered local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) as the drivers of future local growth in the Government’s long-awaited Industrial Strategy.
Government confirms talks over second West Midlands devolution deal
Business secretary Greg Clark has suggested the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is on the brink of striking a second devolution deal with the Government.
Top-down plan shot down
Town halls and experts have kicked back at sweeping proposals urging ministers to impose new devolution structures on places that fail to agree them locally.
Jones to leave think-tank to work with Clark
The chief executive of the Centre for Cities think-tank, Alexandra Jones, has been hired to head up the Government’s industrial strategy, it was announced today.
LGA backs districts following Whitehall raid on NHB budget
The Local Government Association (LGA) has backed furious districts angry after Whitehall raided the New Homes Bonus (NHB) budget to help prop up social care.
Conservatives name West Midlands mayoral candidate
John Lewis managing director Andy Street has been named the Conservative candidate for next year’s West Midlands metro mayor elections.
Sajid Javid has yet to set the agenda
Sajid Javid is yet to make his mark on local government policy but his rhetoric on council budgets could be a cause for concern, says Heather Jameson
Where next for devolution?
Will government demands for elected mayors in devolution deals survive in the post-Brexit shake-up and how will the agenda be shaped by the referendum result? Simon Goacher looks at the evidence.
Business as usual?
Serious concerns still remain over the logistics of business rates redistribution. Finance expert Frances Foster talks to Dan Peters about the pitfalls of pilots, the crucial question of ‘need’ and the future of SIGOMA’s campaign work.
West Country firms want decision on power plan
Council leaders have called on the Government to make a final decision on Hinkley Point C as soon as possible for the sake of local firms.
Fear for councils over business rates appeals
The risk of losing business rates appeals needs to be held at a national level, a senior local government finance chief has argued.
The path ahead for local government
Greg Clark talks to Heather Jameson about the place for local government post-Brexit, the future of council funding and his stance on business rates devolution.