Legislation
COSLA: ‘Delay Frank’s Law to help councils’
Scotland’s councils have called for a delay in the introduction of ‘Frank’s Law’ to help them prepare for a surge in demand for personalised care.
Planning Bill progresses despite opposition
Scottish opposition parties have called for changes after expressing concerns about the Government’s proposed Planning Bill.
Standards split between officers and councillors
Councillors and officers are divided over the future of the standards regime, with politicians backing the existing approach dismissed as a ‘toothless tiger’ by officials.
Hackitt proposes extra council duties post-Grenfell
Councils could be handed extra responsibilities for monitoring the safety of higher-risk residential buildings (HRRBs) under reforms proposed by an independent report published today.
Raynsford: Planning system not fit for purpose
The UK planning system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and needs reforming in order to be more focused on the interests and wellbeing of citizens, according to a former local government minister Nick Raynsford.
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.
Glasgow in push for first drugs facility
Glasgow City Council boss Annemarie O’Donnell will invite home secretary Amber Rudd to learn more about proposals for the country’s first safer drug consumption facility.
Northants crisis could halt Oxfordshire reorganisation
Plans to reorganise local government in Oxfordshire may be stymied by communities secretary Sajid Javid’s intervention in neighbouring Northamptonshire, senior sources have claimed.
IFS implores action over growing social care funding chasm
The Government will need to scrap its funding reforms, significantly boost top-ups or centralise care if it is to plug the social care funding gap, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned today.
Government backs DoLS replacement
The Government has said it ‘agrees in principle’ that the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) system should be ‘replaced as a matter of pressing urgency’.
Mandatory reporting calls rejected by Government
Ministers today rejected calls for the mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse – claiming an effective case for a new law has not been made.
The Drugs Don't Work
As Diary has mentioned before, the impressively liberal Canadians have decided to legalise cannabis later this year, devolving oversight of the regime to provinces.
Hotel levy talks over Commonwealth Games
Talks between Birmingham City Council and the Government over how the Commonwealth Games will be funded are continuing, The MJ understands.
Lord Porter gives the gift of time
Too often we lament our hectic lives – usually while simultaneously getting the kids ready for school, washing up, putting the bins out, filing our tax return, eating breakfast with one hand and de-icing the windscreen with the other.
Academics highlight recruitment and retention problems
Councils require greater clarity over how their social care market-shaping and commissioning duties should be used to ensure a sustainable workforce, new research has suggested.
Judge's warnings over care proceedings
Councils should ‘think long and hard’ before embarking on care proceedings against ‘otherwise unimpeachable’ parents disputing care packages for gravely ill children, a judge has warned.
Kerslake: Localism Act not backed by resources
The Localism Act has not been backed up by the resources it needs, according to the civil servant in charge at the time of its implementation.
Inspector arrives amid reorganisation pressure
An independent inspector today began investigating Northamptonshire CC’s precarious finances amid fresh signs MPs are pressuring the Government to reorganise the county.
Javid sends inspector into Northamptonshire
Local government secretary Sajid Javid has ordered a best value inspection of Conservative-led Northamptonshire CC amid continuing concerns over its financial management and corporate governance.
Councils win high-value home reprieve
Local authorities will not be forced to sell high-value council homes until at least April 2019 after lobbying from the sector.